Discuss the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour
AO1 Psychologists suggest that there is a relationship between human sexual selection and reproductive success. Explaining this relationship there is intra-sexual selection and inter-sexual selection. Intra-sexual selection suggests that members of the same sex compete with each other in order to get a member of the opposite sex and ensure reproductive success. The winner mates and then passes on their genes. Whichever traits led to their success i.e. health because there genes are stronger, will be passed onto the next generation (the offspring) through their genes. This is known as male competition as they fight for women with certain traits i.e. an hourglass figure because they are more fertile/ young age because of their reproductive ability.
Inter-sexual selection suggests that members of one sex will be attracted to the opposite sex if they possess certain qualities i.e. power because they can offer more resources to ensure survival for offspring. This is known as female choice as the females choose the male on offer most powerful the opportunity to mate, as she feels this will increase the rate of reproductive success.
AO2/AO3 (P) There is supporting empirical evidence by Singh (1993) into the relationship between human sexual selection and reproductive success.(E) Singh found that although breast size, weight and physique varied over the years of beauty winners, a consistent feature was a small waist set against full hips. This suggests that the waist to hip ratio may symbolise fertility as this is a quality men find attractive and look for in women when choosing their partner.(C) This supports the theory of that there is a relationship between human sexual selection and reproductive success as it supports the intra-sexual selection explanation of that men look for certain traits in order to ensure reproductive success. By supporting the theory, this increased its internal validity.
(P) There is a second piece of supporting empirical evidence by
Inter-sexual selection suggests that members of one sex will be attracted to the opposite sex if they possess certain qualities i.e. power because they can offer more resources to ensure survival for offspring. This is known as female choice as the females choose the male on offer most powerful the opportunity to mate, as she feels this will increase the rate of reproductive success.
AO2/AO3 (P) There is supporting empirical evidence by Singh (1993) into the relationship between human sexual selection and reproductive success.(E) Singh found that although breast size, weight and physique varied over the years of beauty winners, a consistent feature was a small waist set against full hips. This suggests that the waist to hip ratio may symbolise fertility as this is a quality men find attractive and look for in women when choosing their partner.(C) This supports the theory of that there is a relationship between human sexual selection and reproductive success as it supports the intra-sexual selection explanation of that men look for certain traits in order to ensure reproductive success. By supporting the theory, this increased its internal validity.
(P) There is a second piece of supporting empirical evidence by