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Human Mating Strategies

Human Mating Strategies. Some relevant facts:. 1. Female investment in offspring – very high Male investment in offspring – variable. 2. Reproductive life. Female. Male. 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80. Central Question.

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Human Mating Strategies

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  1. Human Mating Strategies

  2. Some relevant facts: 1. Female investment in offspring – very high Male investment in offspring – variable 2. Reproductive life Female Male 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

  3. Central Question 1. Can humans be shown to mate in a manner consistent with the hypotheses surrounding mate choice by either perception of genetic quality or of ability to provide resources?

  4. What should males look for in a mate? Indicators of fertility (age [youth], health) What should females look for in a mate? Indicators of ability to provide resources (age, wealth)

  5. Hypothesis Women value earning potential more than men Women value ambition and industriousness more than men Men value physical attributes more than women Men value chastity more than women Men prefer women younger than themselves 0 25 50 75 100 Proportion of cultures supporting hypothesis

  6. Question: If you could mate with a member of the opposite sex who was no more or less attractive than your permanent mate and there was no risk of disease, discovery or forming a permanent liaison, would you do it? 100 80 60 40 20 0 Probably/certainly not - Females - 91% - Males - 50% - Males - Females Certainly would Probably would Probably not Certainly not

  7. Most primates Males  concentration on mating effort Females  concentration on parental effort

  8. Dominance in a Social Group Environmental constraints Group structure Male strategies Female strategies

  9. Dominance in a Social Group Underlying principle: Higher status males  more copulations & more offspring

  10. Dominance in a Social Group Kipsigis # wives Acres owned

  11. Dominance in Social Group 12 - 14 Age at puberty 15 - 16 17 - 19 Bride price 52-61 62-71 72-81 82-91 Decade

  12. Ecology of human mating systems Starvation Food storage/trade Protein deficiency Subsistence Pathogens Female contribution Rain predictibility Marriage system Population density Rainfall extremes Mobility Temperature extremes Group size

  13. Ecology of human mating systems Starvation Food storage/trade Protein deficiency Subsistence Pathogens Female contribution Rain predictibility Marriage system Population density Rainfall extremes Mobility Temperature extremes Group size

  14. Ecology of human mating systems Starvation Food storage/trade Protein deficiency Subsistence Pathogens Female contribution Rain predictibility Marriage system Population density Rainfall extremes Mobility Temperature extremes Group size

  15. Ecology of human mating systems If there are no resources??? Unokai – Yanomami warriors (involved in a killing) More wives earlier in life Wives Children Wives Unokai Non-Unokai 20-24 25-30 31-40 >40 Age

  16. Human mating systems Sperm competition How monogamous is monogamy? Indigo bunting Within pair Extra-pair 0 12 Days before egglaying

  17. Human mating systems Sperm competition When does it occur? 1. Adolescent courtship Triobrand Islands

  18. Human mating systems Sperm competition When does it occur? 2. Facultative polyandry polyandry Polyandry monogamy polygyny

  19. Human mating systems Sperm competition When does it occur? 2. Facultative polyandry polyandry Polyandry monogamy polygyny Facultative Polyandry universal moderate occasional uncommon

  20. Human mating systems Sperm competition Why should females be polyandrous? 1. Good genes 2. Genetic Diversity 3. Fertility Backup - 25% of couples - sterility (35% -male) 4. Material Resources • females mate extramaritally more often with men of • higher socioeconomic status • females mate extramaritally more often with men older than their primary mate

  21. Human mating systems Sperm competition What attributes of humans may have evolved in context of sperm competition? Males 1. Mating patterns - most common -monogamy (with extramarital mating?) -only if cost of any extramarital tactic is free or < cost of supporting second mate

  22. Human mating systems Sperm competition What attributes of humans may have evolved in context of sperm competition? Males 2. Sexual Jealousy and Paternity Assurance Spousal homocide related to sexual jealousy USA - 33% Africa (several studies) - 45%

  23. Human mating systems Sperm competition What attributes of humans may have evolved in context of sperm competition? Females 1. Cryptic ovulation and continuous sexual receptivity Most primates Humans

  24. Human mating systems Sperm competition What attributes of humans may have evolved in context of sperm competition? Females 2. Perennially obvious breasts

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