Homework

Plan the following essay ready for timed
essay after half term
“Discuss two or more theories of the
formation of romantic relationships”
(8+16)
How will I know if I am learning?
By the end of the lesson…
E
Will be able to describe research evidence to
support sexual selection.
C Will be able to evaluate sexual selection as a
theory of relationships.
A
Will be able to evaluate using good IDA
Sex differences in
human mate
preferences’
‘
Describe evidence,
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
THIS IS BUSS…
How can I find
out about male
and female
mate
preferences
…HE’S
I know, I’ll do a
questionnaire
INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT WHAT MEN
AND WOMEN GO FOR IN A MATE
Fill in your
age, gender
and marital
status
17,
Female,
single
25, Male,
single
32,
Female,
Married
41, Male,
single
 How
important 18
characteristics were to
them, including…
 At
what age they
wanted to marry

 How
big they like the
age gap to be
between themselves
and their partner



Good job
Good looks
Chastity
Ambition
 Which
 How
many children
they want
characteristics
were most desirable
including…


Describe evidence,
Good earning capacity
Physical attractiveness
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
Let’s go and see if
we get different
results in other
cultures
Let’s go to
Europe, America,
Africa, Iran, New
Zealand, and
many more…
Pack your
bags and
hold tight…
MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE WERE USED…
…AND THEY WERE GAINED USING DIFFERENT SAMPLING
TECHNIQUES
Describe evidence,
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
In all 37 samples
men rated good
looks in their mate
more than women
In all 37
samples males
and females
preferred the
male to be
older
In 36/37 samples
women rated
good financial
prospects higher
than men did
Good financial
prospects was
rated low in the
Netherlands and
Great Britain
This was high in
Indonesia and
Nigeria
In 34 samples we
rated ambition as
more important
than men did
Good looks
were
particularly
important for
men in Bulgaria
and Nigeria
In Scandinavian
countries chastity
was seen as
irrelevant
But China, India
and Indonesia
see this as
important
Wow, that
was a big
study! Time
for a cup of
tea!
Research the following studies and
complete the evaluation grid:
1)
Buss (1989)
2) Clarke & Hatfield (1989)
3) Dunbar and Waynforth (1995)
4) Penton-Voak et al (1999) –
Menstrual Cycle
Describe evidence,
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA

Now consider the following questions and write out your
answers/ideas…

1) How does Miller et al (2007) provide support for the
importance of fertility in his study of lap dancers?

2) In Buss’ study, men showed a distinct preference for younger
women. It was suggested that this was because youth was an
indicator of fertility. However are there any other explanations
for a male preference for younger mates?

3) What is the problem of Homosexuality for this theory?

4) What is the problem of Contraception for this theory?
Describe evidence,
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
1)
How could this explanation be gender biased? (Can a
man be sexually promiscuous without willing females?)
2)
Wilson: ‘evolutionary psychology simply points out the
genes are a strong guide to our behaviour.’ Does this
suggest nature or nurture? Determinism or free will?
3)
BUT Honeybourne, considered that evolutionary
psychology was a from of biological Calvinism whereby
your genetics acted as a deterministic factor. Your genes
preset all of your behaviour, disregarding the role of free
will.
4)
Rose, a prominent critic of evolutionary psychology, has
argued that it is too concerned with the past and thus
presents a “Flinstone’s View” of mankind. What could this
mean?
Describe evidence,
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
What might the following psychologists say about sexual
selection as an approach to relationships?
Pavlov
Describe evidence,
Freud
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
Create a PEEL for one Point of Sexual Selection as a theory of
relationships….
POINT
EVIDENCE
Describe evidence,
Make your point.
Look atitthe
mark
Support
with
scheme for a
24 marker
psychological
research.
and answer the
questions..
EXPLAIN
Explain what the
research shows or
suggests.
LINK
Link it back to your point
or the question.
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
Imagine you were another psychologist looking at the
theory of Sexual Selection and it’s influence on
relationships. You want to weigh up the pro’s and con’s.
Consider what we have learned and write a passage
evaluating Sexual Selection as a theory of relationships.
Consider:
1) Evidence
2) A02
3) IDA (Synoptic A02)
4) Comparisons with other theories/approaches.
Describe evidence,
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA
Discuss the relationship between
sexual selection and human
reproductive behaviour.
(A01 = 8 A02/A03 = 16)
Due in one week today!
Describe evidence,
Evaluate using A02
Evaluate using good IDA