Mate Selection Theories essays

Mate Selection Theories essays To describe men and women's differential preferences in mate selection, I am going to use the following theories: 1) sexual selection theory, 2) parental investment theory, and 3) social learning theory, and 4) sexual strategies theory. All of these theories have been used to explain why men and women have differential preferences in mate selections. In the evolutionary approach, biological fitness is defined as reproductive success. Therefore, understanding particular behavioral sex differences is of great interest to evolutionists. Reproduction is central to the evolutionary process and no domain is closer to reproduction than sexuality. Darwin (58) adopted phrase "survival of the fittest" to summarize the process of natural selection, but this choice was unfortunate. Survival is certainly critical. Many adaptations of organisms exist because they successfully overcame the forces that impeded survival, such examples are parasites, diseases, food shortages, predators, and Darwin (67) also fashioned the use of term what he believed to be a second evolutionary process, which he called sexual selection. According to sexual selection theory, characteristics that give organisms an advantage in the competition for mates can also evolve. Sexual selection can operate through two processes. The first is intrasexual or same-sex competition. If members of one sex compete with one another, and the victors of these competitions gain preferential sexual access to mates, then these useful qualities lead to success in same-sex competitions will be selected and can evolve over time. These might include athletic ability, social skills to enlist allies, or even a sense of humor that deters a rival. The key point is that whatever qualities lead to success in same-sex competitions can evolve because of the reproductive advantage that accrues to the victor The second component...