Buss 1989Buss 1989

Sex differences in mate Sex differences in mate preferencespreferences

Objectives Lesson 1Objectives Lesson 1

To understand the context, aims and To understand the context, aims and procedures of Buss’s evolutionary studyprocedures of Buss’s evolutionary study

To have notes for exam revisionTo have notes for exam revision

Objectives Lesson 2Objectives Lesson 2

To understand the findings and conclusions To understand the findings and conclusions of Buss’s evolutionary studyof Buss’s evolutionary study

To have notes for exam revisionTo have notes for exam revision

Objectives Lesson 3Objectives Lesson 3

To evaluate Buss’s evolutionary study in To evaluate Buss’s evolutionary study in terms of methodology and alternative terms of methodology and alternative evidenceevidence

To have notes for exam revisionTo have notes for exam revision

ContextContext

Danny de Vito or Johnny Depp?Danny de Vito or Johnny Depp? Kathy Burke or Angelina Jolie?Kathy Burke or Angelina Jolie? Why?Why? Evolutionary Psychology and choosing a Evolutionary Psychology and choosing a

partner. partner. BUSS (1989).mgmfBUSS (1989).mgmf

Context – 3 PredictionsContext – 3 Predictions1) Parental Investment1) Parental Investment

YouTubeYouTube - Girls - Girls DontDont Like Boys-Good Charlotte (lyrics) Like Boys-Good Charlotte (lyrics)

Women invest more TIME and ENERGY Women invest more TIME and ENERGY into their offspring, so will choose partners into their offspring, so will choose partners who can provide who can provide resourcesresources (food, territory, (food, territory, protection)protection)

Modern women will look for ambitious, Modern women will look for ambitious, industrious men who have wealth and industrious men who have wealth and status.status.

Context – 3 PredictionsContext – 3 Predictions2)Reproductive Value2)Reproductive Value

Women’s fertility (short term) and Women’s fertility (short term) and reproductive value (long term) are related to reproductive value (long term) are related to age, so:age, so:

Men will look for partners who are physically Men will look for partners who are physically attractive and younger than themselves.attractive and younger than themselves.

Context – 3 PredictionsContext – 3 Predictions3)Paternity Probability3)Paternity Probability

Men can never be 100% sure that their Men can never be 100% sure that their partners offspring are genetically their own, partners offspring are genetically their own, so:so:

Men should prefer women who are CHASTE Men should prefer women who are CHASTE (haven’t had other sexual partners) and will (haven’t had other sexual partners) and will show more sexual jealousy than womenshow more sexual jealousy than women

AimsAims

To investigate whether the predictions of To investigate whether the predictions of evolutionary psychology can be supported in evolutionary psychology can be supported in different cultures around the world.different cultures around the world.

If the findings were similar, this would If the findings were similar, this would suggest that sex difference are innate (and suggest that sex difference are innate (and support the evolutionary view)support the evolutionary view)

ProceduresProcedures

Complete the Participant section on your Complete the Participant section on your handout using p117 of your text.handout using p117 of your text.

Info from original article :Info from original article : Males 4601, Females 5446Males 4601, Females 5446

Complete the sampling box – samples were Complete the sampling box – samples were VOLUNTEER, OPPORTUNITY or VOLUNTEER, OPPORTUNITY or SYSTEMATICSYSTEMATIC

Participants Participants

10,04710,047 participants from participants from 33 countries, 33 countries, located on six continents and five islands.located on six continents and five islands.

The samples varied in size from 55 in Iran to The samples varied in size from 55 in Iran to 1,491 in USA (mainland) 1,491 in USA (mainland)

The Iranian sample was the only sample to The Iranian sample was the only sample to have less than 100 participants. have less than 100 participants.

The age of the participants in the sample The age of the participants in the sample groups ranged from 17 years in New groups ranged from 17 years in New Zealand to 29 years in West Germany.Zealand to 29 years in West Germany.

ProceduresProcedures

Data Collection was done by native Data Collection was done by native residents who did not know the hypotheses residents who did not know the hypotheses of the study of the study

ProceduresProcedures 2 Questionnaires 2 Questionnaires

Rating QuestionnaireRating Questionnaire a) Biographical Dataa) Biographical Data b) Mate preferences (General questions)b) Mate preferences (General questions) c) Rating Scale including 4 TARGET c) Rating Scale including 4 TARGET

VARIABLES – highlight them on your sheetVARIABLES – highlight them on your sheet

ProceduresProcedures 2 Questionnaires 2 Questionnaires

Ranking QuestionnaireRanking Questionnaire 13 characteristics13 characteristics Rank from 1-13, 1 = most desirableRank from 1-13, 1 = most desirable Included 2 TARGET VARIABLES – highlight Included 2 TARGET VARIABLES – highlight

them on your sheetthem on your sheet

ProceduresProcedures Translations Translations

For each country 3 translators were For each country 3 translators were employed :employed :

1 Translated questionnaire from English1 Translated questionnaire from English 1 Translated answers into English1 Translated answers into English 1 Resolved problems1 Resolved problems Neutral words used eg Physically AttractiveNeutral words used eg Physically Attractive Reflected cultural diffferences: living Reflected cultural diffferences: living

together (Sweden) Polygyny (Nigeria)together (Sweden) Polygyny (Nigeria)

FindingsFindings Good Financial Prospects Good Financial Prospects

36/37 (97%) females valued this more than 36/37 (97%) females valued this more than males. Spain slight difference in opposite males. Spain slight difference in opposite direction.direction.

Less important for W. Europeans than Less important for W. Europeans than Americans, Asians and African samplesAmericans, Asians and African samples

Variation within samplesVariation within samples

FindingsFindings Ambition and Industriousness Ambition and Industriousness

34/37 (92%) females valued this more than 34/37 (92%) females valued this more than males. males.

29 samples (78%) statistically significant29 samples (78%) statistically significant 3 samples in opposite direction – Colombia, 3 samples in opposite direction – Colombia,

Spain and S.A Zulus.Spain and S.A Zulus. Only Zulu finding significant (physical work = Only Zulu finding significant (physical work =

female task)female task)

FindingsFindingsAge DifferenceAge Difference

All 37 samples males preferred younger All 37 samples males preferred younger matesmates

Highlight 3 related findings on your sheetHighlight 3 related findings on your sheet

FindingsFindingsAge Difference (male view)Age Difference (male view)

All 37 samples males preferred younger All 37 samples males preferred younger matesmates

Mean preferred age difference by males = Mean preferred age difference by males = 2.66 years2.66 years

Preferred marriage age for men = 27.49Preferred marriage age for men = 27.49 Therefore ideal woman = 24.83 close to Therefore ideal woman = 24.83 close to

PEAK FERTILITY rather than reproductive PEAK FERTILITY rather than reproductive value.value.

FindingsFindingsAge Difference (female view)Age Difference (female view)

All 37 samples females preferred older All 37 samples females preferred older matesmates

Mean preferred age difference by females = Mean preferred age difference by females = 3.42 years3.42 years

Preferred marriage age for women = 25.39Preferred marriage age for women = 25.39 Therefore ideal man = 28.81Therefore ideal man = 28.81 Polygynous countries – males preference to Polygynous countries – males preference to

be older was strongest Nigeria (6.45) be older was strongest Nigeria (6.45) Zambia (7.38)Zambia (7.38)

FindingsFindingsGood LooksGood Looks

All 37 samples males rated good looks All 37 samples males rated good looks more highly than femalesmore highly than females

In 32 samples (92%) difference was In 32 samples (92%) difference was significantsignificant

Particularly important in: Bulgaria, Palestine, Particularly important in: Bulgaria, Palestine, Nigeria and ZambiaNigeria and Zambia

FindingsFindingsChastityChastity

Large varietyLarge variety 23 samples (62%) males preferred chastity23 samples (62%) males preferred chastity 14 samples no significant difference14 samples no significant difference China, Indonesia, Iran – highly valuedChina, Indonesia, Iran – highly valued Western Europe – irrelevant/unimportant Western Europe – irrelevant/unimportant

FindingsFindingsValidity CheckValidity Check

Do self-reported preferences reflect what Do self-reported preferences reflect what people actually do?people actually do?

Do mate preferences accuratety reflect Do mate preferences accuratety reflect mating decisions?mating decisions?

YES – why? (p118)YES – why? (p118)

ConclusionsConclusions

Complete the Conclusions task on your Complete the Conclusions task on your sheetsheet

ConclusionsConclusions

Females values resource providersFemales values resource providers Females value ambition and industryFemales value ambition and industry

Both points support Trivers Parental Both points support Trivers Parental Investment TheoryInvestment Theory

ConclusionsConclusions

Males value physical attractiveness and Males value physical attractiveness and relative youthrelative youth

This supports the hypothesis that males are This supports the hypothesis that males are looking for Reproductive Value (Symonds)looking for Reproductive Value (Symonds)

BUT males aim marry 25 yearolds which BUT males aim marry 25 yearolds which suggests that FERTILITY is more important.suggests that FERTILITY is more important.

However, 25 is past peak fertility, so other However, 25 is past peak fertility, so other factors are involvedfactors are involved

ConclusionsConclusions

Females prefer older matesFemales prefer older mates Supports the idea they are looking for Supports the idea they are looking for

resources (Trivers)resources (Trivers)

Males value chastity supporting Daly on Males value chastity supporting Daly on paternity probability, but evidence isn’t so paternity probability, but evidence isn’t so strong.strong.

EvaluationEvaluationMethodologyMethodology

QuestionnaireQuestionnaire Note a strength and weakness related to Note a strength and weakness related to

this studythis study Problems with the types of questions used?Problems with the types of questions used? ReliabilityReliability Answer the questions on the sheetAnswer the questions on the sheet

EvaluationEvaluationMethodologyMethodology

ValidityValidity Translation – 3 translators were used: why Translation – 3 translators were used: why

would this increase validitywould this increase validity What problems could occur with reading What problems could occur with reading

questions to people who couldn’t read?questions to people who couldn’t read? Answer 2 further issues from your sheetAnswer 2 further issues from your sheet

EvaluationEvaluationMethodologyMethodology

SamplingSampling EthicsEthics In Pairs, answer the questions on your In Pairs, answer the questions on your

sheet.sheet.

EvaluationEvaluationAlternative EvidenceAlternative Evidence

For each of the following studies :For each of the following studies : a) state findings and conclusionsa) state findings and conclusions b) explain how they support, develop or b) explain how they support, develop or

contradict Buss.contradict Buss. Cunningham et al (1995)Cunningham et al (1995) Waynforth and Dunbar (1995) both studiesWaynforth and Dunbar (1995) both studies Berezckei et al (1997)Berezckei et al (1997)