The ‘science’ ofATTRACTION

Parental InvestmentParental Investment

Sexual selection – ‘survival of the sexiest’

Leads to choosy females

…and competitive males

Leads to attractive, sexy males

Parental InvestmentParental Investment

Sexual selection – ‘survival of the sexiest’

Leads to choosy females

…and competitive males

Leads to attractive, sexy males

Parental InvestmentParental Investment

Sexual selection – ‘survival of the sexiest’

Leads to choosy females

…and competitive males

Leads to attractive, sexy males

Parental InvestmentParental Investment

Sexual selection – ‘survival of the sexiest’

Leads to choosy females

…and competitive males

Leads to attractive, sexy males

Sexual SelectionSelection

Sexual selection – ‘survival of the sexiest’

Leads to choosy females

…and competitive males

Leads to attractive, sexy males

Parental InvestmentParental Investment

Robert Trivers - ‘Intense competition will occur amongst the sex that invests least in offspring’

So males compete for females because of the female’s high level of investment

Parental InvestmentParental InvestmentGeher et al. (2007)

No difference in the perceptions of males and females in their perceived readiness for parenting.

However, males showed significantly higher ANS arousal when presented with scenarios that emphasized the psychological costs of parenting.

Short-term mating

strategies

Short-term mating strategies

According to parental investment theory men have evolved a greater desire for casual sex, and would ideally seek sex earlier in a relationship (Buss, 2007).

What are we looking for in a partner?

(Buss & Schmidt, 1993)

Short-term mating strategies

In a study by Clarke and Hatfield (1989), attractive male and female experimenters approached total strangers on a university campus and, among other requests, asked them whether they would come back to their apartment and have sex.

Short-term mating strategies

(Clarke and Hatfield, 1989)

‘Hi, I’ve noticed you around campus and I find you very attractive.’

1. Would you go on a date with me?

2. Would you go back to my apartment with me?

3. Would you have sex with me?

Short-term mating strategies

(Clarke and Hatfield, 1989)

‘Hi, I’ve noticed you around campus and I find you very attractive.’

1. Would you go on a date with me?

2. Would you go back to my apartment with me?

3. Would you have sex with me?

A = 50%

B= 6%

C = 0%

Short-term mating strategies

(Clarke and Hatfield, 1989)

‘Hi, I’ve noticed you around campus and I find you very attractive.’

1. Would you go on a date with me?

2. Would you go back to my apartment with me?

3. Would you have sex with me?

A = 50%

B= 6%

C = 0%

A = 50%

B=

C =

Short-term mating strategies

(Clarke and Hatfield, 1989)

‘Hi, I’ve noticed you around campus and I find you very attractive.’

1. Would you go on a date with me?

2. Would you go back to my apartment with me?

3. Would you have sex with me?

A = 50%

B= 6%

C = 0%

A = 50%

B= 69%

C =

Short-term mating strategies

(Clarke and Hatfield, 1989)

‘Hi, I’ve noticed you around campus and I find you very attractive.’

1. Would you go on a date with me?

2. Would you go back to my apartment with me?

3. Would you have sex with me?

A = 50%

B= 6%

C = 0%

A = 50%

B= 69%

C = 75%