Relationships AQA Psychology Verified Solutions 2023.

Relationships AQA Psychology Verified Solutions 2023. Sexual Selection - ANSWER Evolutionary explanation of partner preference, process by which characteristics were selected for in evolution because they lead to reproductive success and were passed on Anisogamy - ANSWER Refers to differences in male and female sex cells (gametes) Male gametes (sperm) are extremely small, highly mobile, created continuously in vast numbers with little effort Female gametes (ova) relatively large, static, produced at intervals for a limited number of fertile years and require huge investment Consequence of Anisogamy - ANSWER Different 'investment' from male and female resulting in: concept of 'attractive' differs, choosing a mate, other behaviours differ (promiscuity), characteristics that were selected differ Attraction in Evolutionary Terms - ANSWER Means choosing a mate with characteristics that will increase likelihood their offspring finds a mate and reproduces 'runaway process' Inter-Sexual Selection - ANSWER 'Between' the sexes Members of one sex (usually female) choose from available pool of mates, on basis of attraction Males attempt to attract females by 'showing off' with physical and behavioural characteristics - most attractive wins features sexually selected Intra-Sexual Selection - ANSWER 'Within' the sexes Members of one sex (usually males) have to compete with eachother for access to other sex, competition involves using aggression and physical dominance to ensure sole access - strongest wins power and strength sexually selected (explains dimorphism = obvious differences beetwen males and females) Male strategy is quantity Human Reproductive Behaviour - ANSWER Includes all preferences, attitudes and behaviours that may lead to reproduction, focus for evolutionary psychologists is on differences between male and females in these behaviours, then look for fertility Strengths of Sexual Selection and Human Reproductive Behaviour - ANSWER - Buss, 10,000 adults and 33 countries, questions on evolutionary predicted partner preference, found females value resources and males value attractiveness, cross-cultural supports anisogamy - Clark and Hatfield, 75% men and no women accepted invitation to casual sex in a field experiment (college campus), supports women's choosiness and males strategy - Singh, waist-hip ratio preference of 0.7 universal, honest sign of fertility and reproductive success - Waynforth and Dunbar, lonely hearts, men want attractiveness and advertise resources, women opposite, content analysis, no demand characteristics Problems of Sexual Selection and Human Reproductive Behaviour - ANSWER - Clark and Hatfield, women motivated by safety? - Waynforth and Dunbar, lonely hearts outdated - Ignores social and cultural influences, women work more and contraception available, changing behaviour which isn't caused by evolution, limited explanation Self Disclosure - ANSWER Revealing personal information about yourself Romantic partners reveal more about their true selves as relationship develops Self disclosures about one's deepest thoughts/feelings can strengthen romantic bonds when used appropriately Social Penetration Theory - ANSWER Gradual process of revealing your inner self Involves reciprocal exchange of information between intimate partners As they increasingly disclose partner's penetrate more deeply into each other's lives and gain a greater understanding (Altman and Taylor) Breadth and Depth of Self-Disclosure - ANSWER As both increase partners become more committed Layers of an onion - at start of relationship we disclose superficial outer layers (low risk), breadth narrow because some topics are off limits Too much too soon could lead to threatening relationship As it develops self-disclosure becomes deeper revealing more inner layers increasing risk until high risk core