Mating Selection of Young Females

[nan3109]

I'm doing this paper for my antrhpology class and I thought you guys might be able to help me out with it. I have to do an observation and desribe the 'cultural phenomenon' in detail and talk about it as well. So far I have my introduction but I need some review on it and also some ideas for the body of the paper.

Can anyone help a fellow DJ OUT!? Thanks ahead of time!

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Mating Selection of Young Adult Females

The discrepancy between the biological and behavioral selection of young adult females can be explained by an array of participant observation, open structured questionnaires, and recording the qualitative data that is observed amongst the interactions of females and males. There are various theories explaining the biologically selective purposes of women; however, the one that first came to mind was evolutionary psychology. In short, it is roughly that men, in order to survive, have to spread their seeds to ensure a continuation of his life line (Source). Therefore, according to evolutionary psychology, this explains male promiscuity. Women, in the other hand, have to bear a child for 9 months then raise the child. In this light, she must find a man that will be able to 'take care' of her and her offspring as well as being there for emotional, physical, and financial support. Mate selection amongst females is based upon how well a male can provide. A male with better looks, however, comes primary to the biological qualities when a female looks for in a partner whom they know they are not looking to for a lasting relationship. The desire to first notice looks before money or power explains the difference between the biological and behavioral contradiction that emanate from women. The former explains how women choose a husband; the latter explains a temporary relationship.

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

Ooh, good topic! I've done work like this in my graduate studies. Evolutionary psychology is definitely the right direction. You may want to look into the dynamic of 'parental investment' and how this plays out in our species. Your observation of the paradox of physical prowess vs. the best ability to provide in mate selection is another good avenue. It basically validates the 'Jerk' vs. 'Nice Guy' dynamic that Ladder Theory promotes. Simply put it points to why there are men women want to fvck and men women want to marry. The idea is that the best biological deal in the universe is when a female can procreate using the most physically potent heredity available while ensuring that her offspring are sired by the mate best able to ensure their survival. Rarely are both these qualities evidenced in the same individual male in our species. It's the 'Cuckold' principle and it exists in many species other than our own.

I'm a behavioral psychologist and behavioral analysis may be a good means of illustrating your points. Also, be sure to pick up a copy of "Why men are the way they are" by Dr. Warren Farrell. This will help you immeasurably in your paper. It fundimentally lays out biological imperatives for both sexes. Men's primary drive is sex, secondary drive is security, while women's primary is security and secondary is sex. Just read it, it's awesome.

 

[JT47319]

You should also try and find the studies done on birds (and later humans) that showed that a good percentage of the offspring were with "player" birds and not the "provider" bird.

Explore the Player vs Provider dynamic and how the Provider (ie husband) can be duped into raising a child (using all his hard earned resources) that has better genetics (ie the Player's sperm child).

You can also explore the idea of Sexual Marketplaces (ie bars, nightclubs, etc) where members of both sexes meet and how the dynamics differ in cities where the male/female ratios are skewed, etc. etc.