Download EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF GENDER File

Biological influences on
gender
Evolutionary explanations of
gender roles
Learning objectives
• Describe parental investments made by
males and females
• Explain how behavioural differences may
have been linked to reproductive success
• Understand the criticisms that have been
made of the evolutionary account of
gender differences
Introduction
• Gendered behaviour has roots in past
• Result of sexual selection
• Exist to enhance men and women perform
particular roles necessary for survival.
• Criticised by feminists
• Agreement with biological perspective
(nature rather than nurture)
• Reproductive success is all important.
Parental investment theory
• Trivers (1972)
• Behavioural differences evolved due to
different reproductive strategies which led
to reproductive success in the past.
• Males invest relatively little in parenting
compared to females.
Difference in behaviour
• Uncommitted sex /
promiscuity = optimal
strategy for males
• Choosiness = optimal
strategy for females.
• Men and women
differ in their
readiness to engage in
casual sexual
encounters.
• Parental
investment theory
also explains
tendency to form
relationships or
‘pair bonds’.
Differences in aggression
• Men have to compete
to be chosen
• They need to be seen
as fitter and stronger
• Men tend to be
bigger than females
(the protector and
provider).
Commentary and evaluation
• It is unlikely that a one-night stand or shortterm relationship will result in pregnancy.
• A baby with one parent has less chance of
survival.
• This is an argument against the idea that
promiscuous sex is advantageous to males.
Evaluation
• The reluctance of women to engage in casual
sex may reflect cultural views rather than
biology and evolution.
• Cassidy (2007) argues that evolutionary
psychology tells us nothing about nonheterosexual relationships.
• Differences may be undesirable (e.g. the idea of
the uncommitted male).
Controversial aspects
• The theory has been
used to explain
(justify) sexual
violence such as rape.
• This attracts much
outrage and criticism.
Does that necessarily
make it wrong?
• It is a sensitive area.