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AQA A Level Psychology Relationships Exam Questions and Answers
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AQA A Level Psychology Relationships Exam Questions and Answers
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AQA A Level PsychologyRelationships Exam Questions and
Answers
Outline what sexual selection is - Answer>> Sexual Selection is
the process of selecting the right mate through competing rivals
and engaging in the right behaviours in order for successful
conception and child rearing. The evolutionary explanations
behind this preference is important as it gives us insight on who
will be chosen and who will be excluded.
Outline the two ways in which sexual selection operates -
Answer>> Intrasexual Selection - this involves individuals of
one sex (usually male) outcompeting each other in oder to gain
access to the other sex. Those who are successful are able to
mate and pass on their genes to their offspring
Intersexual Selection - this is where members of one sex evolve
preferences for specific qualities in potential mates. This causes
the members of the opposite sex who have these qualities to
have an advantage and more of a choice of who they want to
mate with
Outline the rationale behind sexual selection including long term
mate preferences - Answer>> Although on the face of it being
choosy about mates wastes time and energy in the long run it is
essential. The rationale behind it is that if you are choosy then the
genetic quality of your mate will be higher quality which will then
pass onto offspring. The offspring will then have characteristics
such as healthy and being attractive. Females tend to be attracted
to those who are able to invest resources into her and her
children, physically protect her and her children and are
compatible to show minimal costs to her and her children.
,Outline a study into partner preference - Answer>> Buss
conducted a study that involved 10,000 participants from 37
cultures. Asked to rate each of the 18 characteristics on how
important they were to them. A four point likert scale was used.
They found that the main results were:
Resources - it was found that women found this more important
than men. Translating into a desire for men with qualities and
resources such as ambition and money
Physical Attractiveness - men placed more importance on this as
it provides a cue to a woman's health and thus fertility
Youth - men wanted mates who were younger indicating that they
valued increased fertility
Intelligence - both sexes wanted this
Evaluate the nature of sexual selection - Answer>> Buss's
study may lack validity. The study looks at what peoples
expressed preferences in mates are rather than an actual
reflection of what really happens in a real life situation. The
statistics gained from his study do not accurately match marriage
statistics on factors such as age. However real life studies do
provide the same statistics, for example one study done on 29
cultures confirmed that men do in fact go for younger women.
Cultural traditions may be as important as evolutionary factors.
Gender differences in mate preference may in fact stem from
cultural and social traditions rather than evolutionary factors. For
example the fact that women desire men with more resources
could be due to the fact that women have been denied
economical power in many countries in the past and even now.
One study found that in those countires where women's status
were less they tended to go for men with more resources.
Meaning that we should not simply look at evolutionary factors in
mate preference.
, Female preference for high status men may not be universal. One
psychologist claims that female preference for high status men is
not universal and argues that most studies have been conducting
on female undergraduate students. Therefore these women
expect to achieve high educational status and thus expect their
partner to reflect this. Therefore evidence for females preference
for high status men is weak
State the factors that affect attraction - Answer>> Physical
Attractiveness (Matching Hypothesis)
Self Disclosure
Filter Theory
Outline physical attractiveness - Answer>> It seems that in the
past men have shown more of a preference towards physical
attractiveness than women however recent studies suggest that it
may be just as important to women as men. However women may
rely on physical attractiveness when it comes to a short term thing
ie. a one night stand whereas when it came to a long term
relationship it was less essential.
Outline the matching hypothesis - Answer>> The matching
hypothesis says that when seeking for romantic partners we look
for people who we perceive to be of similar social desirability as
ourselves. According to this view the first step is partners
assessing their own desirability in the eyes of a potential partner
and then select the best candidates who would be most likely
attracted to them. Although realistically they would both be
attracted to the most desirable candidate by matching with each
others social desirability then they are maximising a successful
outcome.
Outline a study done into the matching hypothesis - Answer>>
A psychologist advertised a computer dance for students at a
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