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%