StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Evolution and Human Behavior: Darwinian Perspectives on Human Nature - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The idea of this paper "Evolution and Human Behavior: Darwinian Perspectives on Human Nature" emerged from the author’s interest and fascination in how male and female traits correlate to reproductive success and their effect on human mating preference…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.6% of users find it useful
Evolution and Human Behavior: Darwinian Perspectives on Human Nature
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Evolution and Human Behavior: Darwinian Perspectives on Human Nature"

Sexual selection is an important natural phenomenon of reproduction. Reproductive success in both males and females is vital in maintaining the existence of lineages within populations and avoiding the extinction of species (Cartwright 17). Understanding the identification of traits that affect the reproductive system is necessary in order to understand the evolutionary process. However, it is worth noting that mating success does not necessarily mean reproductive success (Cartwright 17).

Factors that contribute to longevity influence reproductive success in males in comparison to trait factors. The reproductive value of males is not determined by physical appearance but reproductive investment (Ellison 14). Genetics and behavior reveal that males are aggressive and competitive though certain traits strengthen the capacity of other individuals. Behavioral traits such as boldness, assertiveness, and activeness make the dominant male more attractive to the females. A high-status male is quite preferable as a mating partner. The male guarding trait is significant in reproductive success because a male who protects his offspring has the potential of achieving reproductive success.  The age and maturity of a dominant male affect reproduction. Younger males are viewed as fit for copulation and breeding in comparison to older males.

Fertility in males is also important in reproductive success because sperm competition is linked with length. The longer the sperm tail, the faster it can swim, and the higher the chances of fertilization. Human males with longer sperms are more viable and vice versa. Human male height is quite preferable because it is associated with strength and protection by female counterparts. The male body size is significant in selecting a mate. It is a fact that women prefer men with broad chests and muscles as compared to thin short men (Cartwright 87).

Females choose their breeding mates after considering certain factors. An example is good genes because they look for males with certain phenotypes with the hope that these characteristics will pass on to their offspring. Hormone regulation and age is a major determinant of reproductive success in females. Estrogen is an important hormone in human females during breeding and pre-breeding. Its concentration is associated with reproduction success. Older women who have attained menopause are incapable of conceiving while younger women are highly prolific (Ellison 124).

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Explain how specific male and female traits are correlated to Essay”, n.d.)
Retrieved de https://studentshare.org/anthropology/1643735-explain-how-specific-male-and-female-traits-are-correlated-to-reproductive-success-and-how-this-has-affected-human-mating-preferences
(Explain How Specific Male and Female Traits Are Correlated to Essay)
https://studentshare.org/anthropology/1643735-explain-how-specific-male-and-female-traits-are-correlated-to-reproductive-success-and-how-this-has-affected-human-mating-preferences.
“Explain How Specific Male and Female Traits Are Correlated to Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/anthropology/1643735-explain-how-specific-male-and-female-traits-are-correlated-to-reproductive-success-and-how-this-has-affected-human-mating-preferences.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Evolution and Human Behavior: Darwinian Perspectives on Human Nature

The Role of Language in Social Construction of Race

It was based on the incorrect assumption that the formation and the evolution of species are the same things as the evolution and formation of races.... Language on the other hand refers to the human capacity to acquire and use complex systems of communication.... The social construction of race means that race is based on the basis of human interaction as opposed to being considered under the aspects of natural differentiation.... Race is a social construction because being social beings, human beings interact on its basis and as a result of the interaction, the abstract significance of race is constructed....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Principles of the Theory of Natural Selection

The paper "Principles of the Theory of Natural Selection" tells that widely known subject matters in contemporary psychology evidently reflect a strong connection to Darwin's theory: abnormal psychology, behavioral genetics, emotions, psychobiology, comparative psychology, animal psychology, etc....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Darwinian Evolution of ethics

Darwin was of the view that such social instincts as the tendency of humans to display kindness, sympathy, and have an urge for social approbation originate in the human nature.... Darwinian Evolution of ethics human behavior has continuously been susceptible to adaptation through the development of culture.... These ideas are challenged today, especially the argument that helping the needy leads to unfavorable consequences since it helps the ones who are demonstrated to be unfit survive (“evolution and Ethics”)....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Behaviour through the Imperative to Survive

This paper outlines theories on human behaviour, explaining all aspects of behaviour from a historic, and prehistoric perspective.... While other theories on human behavior can explain some types of behaviours better than evolutionary psychology, this branch of study has credibility through understanding that the adaptive traits that are exhibited in human beings are part of a process that can explain all aspects of behavior from a historic, and prehistoric perspective of viewing the natural adaptive development of the human species....
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study

Memetics: An Evolutionary Theory of Cultural Transmission

Dawkins opposes Darwinian's illustration of how human behavior is related to genetic terms and suggests that A Meme plays the same role as genes and depends on imitation to produce copies of them.... The core aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the meme has the ability to influence the treatment of human culture and society through the study of the human being in order to bridge the gap that exists between natural and the social sciences as Alvarez describes in his piece of work....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

Darwinian Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology

Each has its own justifiable points on human development.... The current paper discusses two major views of the cultural development of humans, which are darwinian Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology.... darwinian anthropologists suggest that humans develop based upon behavioral outcomes and thus behavior remains an aspect of genetic change while evolutionary psychologists suggest humans develop as a process of changing the mental tools we already have to address different issues and environments....
14 Pages (3500 words) Research Paper

The Role of Language in the Argument that Race is Socially Constructed

he social construction of race means that race is based on the basis of human interaction as opposed to being considered under the aspects of natural differentiation.... The race is a social construction because being social beings, human beings interact on its basis and as a result of the interaction, the abstract significance of race is constructed.... Language is integral to human life and it determines one's identity....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

The Theory of Charles Darwin

Darwin's assumptions encouraged the formation of a distinctively American form of psychology, a psychology that placed emphasis on individual differences and their assessment, the adaptive or flexible nature of behavior and thoughts, and animal behavior research.... It is still uncertain that human beings have an exact list of selective forces.... Edward Wilson, in 1975, made public his work entitled Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, which tries to give an explanation of organisms' social behavior, as well as that of human beings, within the context of evolutionary theory (Hergenhahn, 2008, 301-302)....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us