3/24/25, 7:44 Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) Flashcards |
AM
Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) exam questions and
answers
Terms in this set (121)
- An evolutionary explanation for partner preference,
sexual selection strategies are used to optimise
reproductive success.
What is sexual selection?
- This suggests that attributes beneficial to survival
and which increase reproductive success (so are
adaptive) are passed on through genes.
What are the two types of intrasexual selection and intersexual selection
sexual selection?
Anisogamy describes the differences between males
and female sex cells (gametes).
What is anisogamy?
This is important as it leads to differences in mating
strategies between males and females.
Intersexual selection refers to the strategies that one
What is intersexual
sex uses to select a partner from the opposite sex.
selection?
Tends to be female reproductive strategy.
1/45
,3/24/25, 7:44 Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) Flashcards |
AM
Intersexual selection tends to be the strategy females
use, as there is a greater investment required to
produce an egg, and (historically) females would
Explain why females tend
invest greater time and commitment in the raising of
to use an intersexual
offspring.
selection reproductive
Therefore, females are much more particular,
strategy:
demanding, discriminating as to which partner
they mate with in order to invest all of these
resources.
Females prefer "quality over quantity".
Due to female intersexual selection, males end up
competing with each other to be 'selected' by a
female.
What is the 'runaway
The 'runaway process' is an evolutionary process in
process'?
which a male trait co-evolves with a female attraction
preference and so becomes increasingly exaggerated
over many generations eg. peacocks.
A hypothesis suggested by Fisher that states that
females select among males based on desirable
What is the 'sexy sons'
traits. Such traits lead to the production of sons
hypothesis'?
that are attractive to the opposite sex and
therefore increase
the likelihood of generational reproductive success.
Refers to strategies one sex uses to be the one that is
What is intrasexual
'selected' by the other sex.
selection?
Tends to be male reproductive strategy.
2/45
,3/24/25, 7:44 Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) Flashcards |
AM
Intrasexual selection is the preferred strategy of
males, where males compete with other males for a
female mate.
The characteristics that contributed to male success
Explain why males tend to
get passed down through generations, leading to
use an intrasexual
'physical dimorphism', which can explain the obvious
selection reproductive
physical differences between males and females.
strategy:
For example, physically larger males would be more
likely to defeat rival males, whereas there is no need
for females to be physically large. Therefore, males
are on average physically larger than females.
- Sexual selection favors traits that enhance
reproductive success, even if they reduce
survival.
- Anisogamy explains differences in male and
female reproductive strategies due to differing
gamete size and investment.
- Inter-sexual selection, driven by females (the
consequences of making a wrong partner choice
Describe evolutionary are more serious for the female, so it pays for her
explanations for partner to be especially selective), favors mates with
preferences. (6) desirable traits and resource-providing ability.
- The "sexy sons" hypothesis suggests that females
choose attractive males so their sons inherit
those traits, attractive features will become
exaggerated over time.
- Intra-sexual selection leads to male competition for
mates, favoring traits like larger size and strength.
- Males develop aggression and strategic behaviors
to outcompete rivals and secure reproductive
opportunities.
P = There is supporting evidence for universal
Evaluate the relationship sex differences in long-term mate preferences
between sexual selection E = Buss (1989) questioned 10,000 adults from 37
and human reproductive different cultures about mate choice preference as to
behaviour: what they would look for in an 'ideal' partner.
✔ Supporting evidence E = He found that females preferred resource-
3/45
, 3/24/25, 7:44 Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) Flashcards |
AM
for universal sex based characteristics (such as a good career),
differences in long-term whereas males preferred physical attractiveness and
mate preferences - youth.
Buss (1989) L = This was true across all the countries surveyed is a
strength as it supports the difference in mate choice
preferences related to anisogamy.
4/45
AM
Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) exam questions and
answers
Terms in this set (121)
- An evolutionary explanation for partner preference,
sexual selection strategies are used to optimise
reproductive success.
What is sexual selection?
- This suggests that attributes beneficial to survival
and which increase reproductive success (so are
adaptive) are passed on through genes.
What are the two types of intrasexual selection and intersexual selection
sexual selection?
Anisogamy describes the differences between males
and female sex cells (gametes).
What is anisogamy?
This is important as it leads to differences in mating
strategies between males and females.
Intersexual selection refers to the strategies that one
What is intersexual
sex uses to select a partner from the opposite sex.
selection?
Tends to be female reproductive strategy.
1/45
,3/24/25, 7:44 Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) Flashcards |
AM
Intersexual selection tends to be the strategy females
use, as there is a greater investment required to
produce an egg, and (historically) females would
Explain why females tend
invest greater time and commitment in the raising of
to use an intersexual
offspring.
selection reproductive
Therefore, females are much more particular,
strategy:
demanding, discriminating as to which partner
they mate with in order to invest all of these
resources.
Females prefer "quality over quantity".
Due to female intersexual selection, males end up
competing with each other to be 'selected' by a
female.
What is the 'runaway
The 'runaway process' is an evolutionary process in
process'?
which a male trait co-evolves with a female attraction
preference and so becomes increasingly exaggerated
over many generations eg. peacocks.
A hypothesis suggested by Fisher that states that
females select among males based on desirable
What is the 'sexy sons'
traits. Such traits lead to the production of sons
hypothesis'?
that are attractive to the opposite sex and
therefore increase
the likelihood of generational reproductive success.
Refers to strategies one sex uses to be the one that is
What is intrasexual
'selected' by the other sex.
selection?
Tends to be male reproductive strategy.
2/45
,3/24/25, 7:44 Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) Flashcards |
AM
Intrasexual selection is the preferred strategy of
males, where males compete with other males for a
female mate.
The characteristics that contributed to male success
Explain why males tend to
get passed down through generations, leading to
use an intrasexual
'physical dimorphism', which can explain the obvious
selection reproductive
physical differences between males and females.
strategy:
For example, physically larger males would be more
likely to defeat rival males, whereas there is no need
for females to be physically large. Therefore, males
are on average physically larger than females.
- Sexual selection favors traits that enhance
reproductive success, even if they reduce
survival.
- Anisogamy explains differences in male and
female reproductive strategies due to differing
gamete size and investment.
- Inter-sexual selection, driven by females (the
consequences of making a wrong partner choice
Describe evolutionary are more serious for the female, so it pays for her
explanations for partner to be especially selective), favors mates with
preferences. (6) desirable traits and resource-providing ability.
- The "sexy sons" hypothesis suggests that females
choose attractive males so their sons inherit
those traits, attractive features will become
exaggerated over time.
- Intra-sexual selection leads to male competition for
mates, favoring traits like larger size and strength.
- Males develop aggression and strategic behaviors
to outcompete rivals and secure reproductive
opportunities.
P = There is supporting evidence for universal
Evaluate the relationship sex differences in long-term mate preferences
between sexual selection E = Buss (1989) questioned 10,000 adults from 37
and human reproductive different cultures about mate choice preference as to
behaviour: what they would look for in an 'ideal' partner.
✔ Supporting evidence E = He found that females preferred resource-
3/45
, 3/24/25, 7:44 Relationships (AQA A-Level Psychology) Flashcards |
AM
for universal sex based characteristics (such as a good career),
differences in long-term whereas males preferred physical attractiveness and
mate preferences - youth.
Buss (1989) L = This was true across all the countries surveyed is a
strength as it supports the difference in mate choice
preferences related to anisogamy.
4/45
