Chapter 7 Primate Mating Systems.ppt

Chapter 7: Primate Mating Systems Mating Systems are patterns of reproductive strategies between females and males within a species. Mating effort: finding a mate, bonding between sexes (monogamy, polygyny, polyandry, harems, multi-sex, etc.,) Parenting effort: caring and provisioning of offspring (mother only, mother and father, alloparental care or cooperative breeding) Behavioral Adaptations or Strategies Strategies: are behavioral adaptations (designed by natural selection to solve ESP). weigh the cost and benefits of alternative behaviors that address the same functional problem (of opportunity). Mating strategies are reproductive adaptations ?????? Trivers’ Parental Investment Theory: The sex who invests most will be most selective in mate choice: inter-sexual selection The sex who invests the least will be more competitive for sexual access: intra-sexual selection Go to a bar . . . Peacock tails and the power of female mate choice: inter-sexual selection. Better providers and sexier sons Dragonfly love Future earning power Generosity: willingness to invest in wife in kids Economic fidelity Protection: size, bravery and skill Predators Other men Holding on to resources Technological skills Status More resources and able to hold on to resources Political and physical protection Higher status children Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac and the Hill-Side Strangler Hypogamy Cultural and environmental standards for success criteria Dilbert and Computer Nerds Physical size Age is a proxy for wealth and power Cultural differences Good father Teach skills to sons Help teach daughters to recognize high quality males Potential James Dean and rebels without a cause Ambition vs. laziness Can’t trust a flake! Undependable Emotionally unstable or immature Less likely to bet the family fortune on a football game Less likely to be insecure and physically abusive Less likely to leave them for another woman. Athletic Prowess offers cues to: Ab