Name: how selection shapes mate choice
Uploaded: 2024-10-24T14:03:06.000Z
Duration: 1 min 6 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Louisiana Student Standards for Science

High School

Life Sciences

Biological Evolution: Unity And Diversity

HS-LS4-2

Natural Selection and Mating Preferences

Le principe de la sélection naturelle suggère que les organismes mieux adaptés à leur environnement ont plus de chances de survivre et de se reproduire.
Les psychologues évolutionnistes utilisent le principe de la sélection sexuelle pour expliquer les différences dans les comportements d’accouplement entre les mâles et les femelles.
Les préférences d’accouplement, un sous-ensemble de la sélection sexuelle, influencent le succès reproducteur. Les individus choisissent souvent des partenaires en fonction de caractéristiques physiques qui signalent une bonne santé, une forme physique génétique ou des caractéristiques avantageuses. Ces préférences peuvent conduire à la prolifération d’un ensemble particulier de caractéristiques au sein d’une population.
En général, les femelles ont une pulsion biologique pour concevoir, porter et potentiellement allaiter une progéniture, ce qui les amène à préférer des partenaires qui peuvent apporter stabilité et protection.
Bien que la psychologie évolutionniste fournisse un cadre pour comprendre le comportement humain, elle ne saisit pas toute la complexité du comportement sexuel et social humain.

sélection naturelle et préférences de reproduction

Le principe de la sélection naturelle postule que les organismes les mieux adaptés à leur environnement ont plus de chances de survivre et de se reproduire. Ce principe est étroitement lié aux préférences d'accouplement, un aspect clé de la sélection sexuelle, qui, selon les psychologues évolutionnistes, est motivée par l'instinct de propagation des gènes. Ces instincts influencent considérablement les comportements et les préférences d'accouplement entre les sexes.

Les femelles, en raison de leur rôle biologique dans la conception, la grossesse et l'allaitement, ont naturellement tendance à privilégier la recherche de partenaires capables de leur assurer stabilité et protection. Cette préférence est ancrée dans la nécessité d'assurer la survie de leur progéniture et la pérennité de leur patrimoine génétique. Des caractéristiques universellement valorisées, comme une peau lisse et un physique jeune, sont perçus dans diverses cultures et à travers les époques comme des indicateurs de santé et de fertilité, reflétant leur importance dans la sélection naturelle et l'attirance sexuelle.

Les hommes, en revanche, montrent généralement une préférence pour les femmes dont le rapport taille-hanches est associé à une fertilité élevée et un nombre limité de naissances antérieures. Cette préférence s’aligne sur leur stratégie de reproduction pour maximiser les chances de transmettre leurs gènes en sélectionnant des partenaires capables de produire plusieurs descendants sains.

Les schémas d’attraction varient également avec l’âge, reflétant l’évolution des stratégies de reproduction tout au cours de la vie d’un individu. Les adolescents ont souvent une préférence pour les femmes de plusieurs années leur aînée, probablement parce que ces femmes sont à un âge de reproduction optimal. En revanche, les hommes d’une vingtaine d’années privilégient généralement leurs pairs, tandis que les hommes plus âgés ont tendance à préférer les femmes plus jeunes, influencés par le potentiel de fertilité plus élevé de ces femmes.

L’interaction entre la sélection naturelle et les préférences d’accouplement détermine la diversité des formes de vie sur Terre, façonnant les traits génétiques, les caractéristiques physiques, les comportements et les relations écologiques à travers les générations. Grâce à ces mécanismes, les espèces évoluent pour mieux s’adapter à leur environnement, attirer des partenaires et assurer la survie de leur progéniture, perpétuant ainsi le cycle de la vie.

Sélection naturelle et préférences de reproduction

Le principe de la sélection naturelle suggère que les organismes mieux adaptés à leur environnement ont plus de chances de survivre et de se reproduire.
Évolutif...

Education

Enseignement

JoVE Core

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction à la psychologie

Unit 1

Unité 1

Biopsychology

Biopsychologie

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TERMES ET CONCEPTS CLÉS

how selection shapes mate choice

Natural selection and mating preferences work together to shape how organisms survive and reproduce. Natural selection favors traits that help an organism fit its environment. Mating preferences are part of sexual selection, which influences who mates with whom and how genes are passed on.

Evolutionary psychologists argue that these preferences are tied to instincts that support reproduction. For females, conception, pregnancy, and nursing create a strong need to choose mates who can offer stability and protection. This choice helps improve the chances that offspring will survive and that a genetic line will continue.

Some traits are widely seen as attractive because they suggest health and fertility. Smooth skin and a youthful body are examples that have been valued across different cultures and time periods. These features are often linked to reproductive fitness, which makes them important in mate choice.

Male preferences also reflect reproductive strategy. Males often prefer women with a waist-to-hip ratio that suggests high fertility and fewer previous childbirths. This preference can increase the chance of selecting a partner who can produce multiple healthy offspring.

Attraction also changes with age. Teenage boys often prefer women who are several years older, likely because those women are at a peak reproductive age. Men in their mid-twenties usually prefer peers, while older men generally prefer younger women because younger women may have higher fertility potential.

Together, natural selection and mating preferences help explain the variety of life on Earth. They shape physical traits, behavior, and ecological relationships across generations. Over time, these forces help species adapt to their environment, attract mates, and support the survival of offspring.

How Selection Shapes Mate Choice

introduction to biological bases of psychology

introduction-to-biological-bases-of-psychology

Biological Factors Shaping Behavior and Mind

Biopsychology connects biology and psychology by showing how the body influences behavior and mental processes. It focuses on the nervous system, neurotransmitters, hormones, genetics, and evolutionary ideas. Together, these areas help explain why people think, feel, and act the way they do. The nervous system is the main foundation of biopsychology. It has two parts: the central nervous system, or CNS, and the peripheral nervous system, or PNS. The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord and...

nervous system

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neurons as communicators of the brain

Neuron Parts and Signal Transmission

Neurons are the cells that carry information through the brain and nervous system. They use electrical and chemical signals to help control body functions, from heartbeat regulation to complex thinking. Their structure is built for fast, efficient communication. The cell body, or soma, is the neuron’s control center. It contains the nucleus, which holds the cell’s genetic material and helps maintain the neuron’s health and function. The cytoplasm around it contains organelles that make...

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neurotransmitters

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cerebral hemispheres

How the Brain’s Two Halves Work

The brain’s two cerebral hemispheres work together to process information and control the body. The left and right hemispheres are linked by the corpus callosum, a large bundle of nerve fibers. This connection lets the two sides share sensory and motor information, with each hemisphere controlling the opposite side of the body. The hemispheres are also specialized for different tasks. This is called lateralization, which means certain functions are handled more strongly by one side than the...

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spinal cord

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lateralization

Brain Hemisphere Specialization

Brain hemisphere specialization divides mental tasks between the left and right sides of the brain. This split can improve neural efficiency and support more complex human abilities. Each hemisphere tends to handle the work it does best, which helps cognitive processing run more smoothly. The left hemisphere is especially strong in logic and language-related tasks. It supports analytical thinking, which means breaking a problem into parts and solving it step by step. This is important for...

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Behavior genetics studies how inherited genes influence human behavior. It looks at how genes passed from parents to offspring help shape behavioral traits and tendencies. The field also examines how inherited factors and environmental influences work together. Researchers use family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies to separate genetic and environmental effects. Family studies track traits within biological families to find possible genetic patterns. They have helped identify...

organization of the brain

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evolutionary psychology

Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

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neuroplasticity

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somatosensory, motor, and association cortex

somatosensory-motor-and-association-cortex

Brain Cortex Areas for Sensation and Movement

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major hormones and their functions

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heritability

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natural selection and adaptation

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natural selection and mating preferences

Natural selection and mating preferences work together to shape how organisms survive and reproduce. Natural selection favors traits that help an organism fit its environment. Mating preferences are part of sexual selection, which influences who mates with whom and how genes are passed on. Evolutionary psychologists argue that these preferences are tied to instincts that support reproduction. For females, conception, pregnancy, and nursing create a strong need to choose mates who can offer...

criticisms of the evolutionary perspective

criticisms-of-the-evolutionary-perspective

Social Learning vs. Evolutionary Psychology

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key terms and concepts

Explore how natural selection and sexual selection influence mate choice, from fertility cues and protection to age-based attraction patterns in humans.

How Selection Shapes Mate Choice | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Introduction to Psychology offers an engaging learning experience on the fundamental principles of psychology through concise video lessons. Students will explore important topics such as cognitive processes, emotional regulation, and neural mechanisms, establishing a strong foundation in the study of the mind and human behavior. This series provides an accessible and captivating approach to grasp the essential concepts of the discipline.

introduction to psychology

HS-LS4-3

Arizona Science Standards

Life Science

HS+B.L3

HS+B.L3U1.10

new-york-state-science-learning-standards

New York State Science Learning Standards

Natural Selection and Evolution

HS-LS4-1.

HS-LS4-4.

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HS-LS4-1

What is Natural Selection?

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Types of Selection

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Frequency-dependent Selection

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Limits to Natural Selection

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Natural Selection

Fitness
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Artificial Selection

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Natural Selection and Adaptation

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...

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Evolutionary ...

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Genetic Drift

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Gene Flow

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This ...

Construct an explanation based on evidence that biological diversity is influenced by (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2) the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment. Emphasis is on using evidence to explain the influence each of the four factors has on number of organisms, behaviors, morphology, or physiology in terms of ability to compete for limited resources and subsequent survival of individuals and adaptation of species. Examples of evidence could include mathematical models such as simple distribution graphs or proportional reasoning.

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Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Diploid organisms have two alleles of each gene, one from each parent, in their somatic cells. Therefore, each individual contributes two alleles to the ...

Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that populations of organisms adapt when an advantageous heritable trait increases in proportion to organisms lacking this trait. Emphasis is on analyzing shifts in numerical distribution of traits and using these shifts as evidence to support explanations for adaptations. Explanations could include basic statistical or graphical analysis.

Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

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Formation of Species

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Speciation Rates

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Genetics of Speciation

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Hybrid Zones

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Extinction

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Evaluate evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions can affect the distribution of traits in a population causing: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species. Emphasis is on determining cause and effect relationships for how changes to the environment such as deforestation, overfishing, application of fertilizers, drought, flood, and the rate of change of the environment affect distribution or disappearance of traits in species.

HS-LS4-5

How Selection Shapes Mate Choice

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