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Buss 1989

Buss 1989. Sex differences in mate preferences. Objectives Lesson 1. To understand the context, aims and procedures of Buss’s evolutionary study To have notes for exam revision. Objectives Lesson 2. To understand the findings and conclusions of Buss’s evolutionary study

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Buss 1989

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  1. Buss 1989 Sex differences in mate preferences

  2. Objectives Lesson 1 • To understand the context, aims and procedures of Buss’s evolutionary study • To have notes for exam revision

  3. Objectives Lesson 2 • To understand the findings and conclusions of Buss’s evolutionary study • To have notes for exam revision

  4. Objectives Lesson 3 • To evaluate Buss’s evolutionary study in terms of methodology and alternative evidence • To have notes for exam revision

  5. Context • Danny de Vito or Johnny Depp? • Kathy Burke or Angelina Jolie? • Why? • Evolutionary Psychology and choosing a partner. BUSS (1989).mgmf

  6. Context – 3 Predictions1) Parental Investment • YouTube - Girls Dont Like Boys-Good Charlotte (lyrics) • Women invest more TIME and ENERGY into their offspring, so will choose partners who can provide resources (food, territory, protection) • Modern women will look for ambitious, industrious men who have wealth and status.

  7. Context – 3 Predictions2)Reproductive Value • Women’s fertility (short term) and reproductive value (long term) are related to age, so: • Men will look for partners who are physically attractive and younger than themselves.

  8. Context – 3 Predictions3)Paternity Probability • Men can never be 100% sure that their partners offspring are genetically their own, so: • Men should prefer women who are CHASTE (haven’t had other sexual partners) and will show more sexual jealousy than women

  9. Aims • To investigate whether the predictions of evolutionary psychology can be supported in different cultures around the world. • If the findings were similar, this would suggest that sex difference are innate (and support the evolutionary view)

  10. Procedures • Complete the Participant section on your handout using p117 of your text. • Info from original article : • Males 4601, Females 5446 • Complete the sampling box – samples were VOLUNTEER, OPPORTUNITY or SYSTEMATIC

  11. Participants • 10,047 participants from 33 countries, located on six continents and five islands. • The samples varied in size from 55 in Iran to 1,491 in USA (mainland) • The Iranian sample was the only sample to have less than 100 participants. • The age of the participants in the sample groups ranged from 17 years in New Zealand to 29 years in West Germany.

  12. Procedures • Data Collection was done by native residents who did not know the hypotheses of the study

  13. Procedures 2 Questionnaires • Rating Questionnaire • a) Biographical Data • b) Mate preferences (General questions) • c) Rating Scale including 4 TARGET VARIABLES – highlight them on your sheet

  14. Procedures 2 Questionnaires • Ranking Questionnaire • 13 characteristics • Rank from 1-13, 1 = most desirable • Included 2 TARGET VARIABLES – highlight them on your sheet

  15. Procedures Translations • For each country 3 translators were employed : • 1 Translated questionnaire from English • 1 Translated answers into English • 1 Resolved problems • Neutral words used eg Physically Attractive • Reflected cultural diffferences: living together (Sweden) Polygyny (Nigeria)

  16. Findings Good Financial Prospects • 36/37 (97%) females valued this more than males. Spain slight difference in opposite direction. • Less important for W. Europeans than Americans, Asians and African samples • Variation within samples

  17. Findings Ambition and Industriousness • 34/37 (92%) females valued this more than males. • 29 samples (78%) statistically significant • 3 samples in opposite direction – Colombia, Spain and S.A Zulus. • Only Zulu finding significant (physical work = female task)

  18. FindingsAge Difference • All 37 samples males preferred younger mates • Highlight 3 related findings on your sheet

  19. FindingsAge Difference (male view) • All 37 samples males preferred younger mates • Mean preferred age difference by males = 2.66 years • Preferred marriage age for men = 27.49 • Therefore ideal woman = 24.83 close to PEAK FERTILITY rather than reproductive value.

  20. FindingsAge Difference (female view) • All 37 samples females preferred older mates • Mean preferred age difference by females = 3.42 years • Preferred marriage age for women = 25.39 • Therefore ideal man = 28.81 • Polygynous countries – males preference to be older was strongest Nigeria (6.45) Zambia (7.38)

  21. FindingsGood Looks • All 37 samples males rated good looks more highly than females • In 32 samples (92%) difference was significant • Particularly important in: Bulgaria, Palestine, Nigeria and Zambia

  22. FindingsChastity • Large variety • 23 samples (62%) males preferred chastity • 14 samples no significant difference • China, Indonesia, Iran – highly valued • Western Europe – irrelevant/unimportant

  23. FindingsValidity Check • Do self-reported preferences reflect what people actually do? • Do mate preferences accuratety reflect mating decisions? • YES – why? (p118)

  24. Conclusions • Complete the Conclusions task on your sheet

  25. Conclusions • Females values resource providers • Females value ambition and industry Both points support Trivers Parental Investment Theory

  26. Conclusions • Males value physical attractiveness and relative youth • This supports the hypothesis that males are looking for Reproductive Value (Symonds) • BUT males aim marry 25 yearolds which suggests that FERTILITY is more important. • However, 25 is past peak fertility, so other factors are involved

  27. Conclusions • Females prefer older mates • Supports the idea they are looking for resources (Trivers) • Males value chastity supporting Daly on paternity probability, but evidence isn’t so strong.

  28. EvaluationMethodology • Questionnaire • Note a strength and weakness related to this study • Problems with the types of questions used? • Reliability • Answer the questions on the sheet

  29. EvaluationMethodology • Validity • Translation – 3 translators were used: why would this increase validity • What problems could occur with reading questions to people who couldn’t read? • Answer 2 further issues from your sheet

  30. EvaluationMethodology • Sampling • Ethics • In Pairs, answer the questions on your sheet.

  31. EvaluationAlternative Evidence • For each of the following studies : • a) state findings and conclusions • b) explain how they support, develop or contradict Buss. • Cunningham et al (1995) • Waynforth and Dunbar (1995) both studies • Berezckei et al (1997)

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