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

Il principio della selezione naturale suggerisce che gli organismi meglio adattati al loro ambiente hanno maggiori probabilità di sopravvivere e riprodursi.
Gli psicologi evoluzionisti usano il principio della selezione sessuale per spiegare le differenze nei comportamenti di accoppiamento tra maschi e femmine.
Le preferenze di accoppiamento, un sottoinsieme della selezione sessuale, influenzano il successo riproduttivo. Gli individui spesso selezionano i compagni in base a caratteristiche fisiche che segnalano buona salute, idoneità genetica o caratteristiche vantaggiose. Queste preferenze possono portare alla proliferazione di un particolare insieme di caratteristiche all'interno di una popolazione.
In generale, le femmine hanno una spinta biologica a concepire, portare in grembo e potenzialmente allattare la prole, il che le porta a preferire compagni in grado di fornire stabilità e protezione.
Sebbene la psicologia evoluzionistica fornisca un quadro per comprendere il comportamento umano, non cattura l'intera complessità del comportamento sessuale e sociale umano.

selezione naturale e preferenze di accoppiamento

Il principio della selezione naturale postula che gli organismi che si sono adattati meglio al loro ambiente hanno maggiori probabilità di sopravvivere e di riprodursi. Questo principio è strettamente interconnesso con le preferenze di accoppiamento, un aspetto chiave della selezione sessuale, che gli psicologi evoluzionisti ritengono sia guidato dall'istinto di propagare i propri geni. Questi istinti influenzano in modo significativo i comportamenti di accoppiamento e le preferenze tra i sessi.

Le femmine, a causa del loro ruolo biologico nel concepimento, nella gravidanza e nell'allattamento, danno intrinsecamente la priorità alla ricerca di compagni che possano fornire loro stabilità e protezione. Questa preferenza è radicata nella necessità di garantire la sopravvivenza della loro prole e la continuazione del loro patrimonio genetico. Alcuni tratti sono universalmente apprezzati, come la pelle liscia e un fisico giovane, e vengono percepiti in varie culture ed epoche come indicatori di salute e fertilità, riflettendo la loro importanza nella selezione naturale e nell'attrazione sessuale.

I maschi, d'altra parte, mostrano in genere una preferenza per le donne con un rapporto vita-fianchi indicativo di elevata fertilità. Questa preferenza è in linea con la loro strategia riproduttiva per massimizzare le possibilità di trasmettere i loro geni selezionando un partner in grado di produrre una prole sana.

I modelli di attrazione variano anche con l'età, riflettendo le mutevoli strategie riproduttive durante la vita di un individuo. I ragazzi adolescenti spesso preferiscono le donne di diversi anni più grandi di loro, probabilmente perché esse sono in un'età riproduttiva di picco. Al contrario, gli uomini sulla ventina di solito preferiscono le coetanee, mentre di solito gli uomini più anziani preferiscono le donne più giovani, influenzati dalla loro maggiore fertilità.

L'interazione tra la selezione naturale e le preferenze di accoppiamento guida la diversità delle forme di vita sulla Terra, modellando i tratti genetici, l’aspetto fisico, i comportamenti e le relazioni ecologiche attraverso le generazioni. Attraverso questi meccanismi, le specie si evolvono per adattarsi meglio ai loro ambienti, attrarre compagni/e e garantire la sopravvivenza della loro prole, perpetuando così il ciclo della vita.

Il principio della selezione naturale suggerisce che gli organismi meglio adattati al loro ambiente hanno maggiori probabilità di sopravvivere e riprodursi.
Evolutivo...

Education

Didattica

JoVE Core

Introduction to Psychology

Introduzione alla psicologia

Unit 1

Unità 1

Biopsychology

Biopsicologia

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TERMINI E CONCETTI CHIAVE

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

Nervous System: CNS, PNS, and Reflexes

The nervous system helps the body sense, move, and respond. It works through a network of nerve cells that carry signals around the body. This system has two main parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system, or CNS, includes the brain and spinal cord. The brain acts as the body’s control center. It processes sensory information and helps coordinate responses. The spinal cord serves as a major pathway for signals between the brain and the rest...

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...

neuronal communication

How Neurons Send Signals

Neurons send signals through electrochemical communication that supports brain and nervous system function. A key part of this process is the action potential, a rapid electrical change that starts when the neuron’s internal charge rises above a threshold. That signal then travels along the axon to the axon terminal, where it is ready to pass to another neuron. The connection point between two neurons is called a synapse. Synapses can be electrical or chemical, and each type moves information...

neurotransmitters

Brain Chemicals That Shape Mood and Movement

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help neurons communicate. They play a major role in nervous system function, as well as in mood, movement, sleep, and social behavior. Serotonin is made in the brain and intestines. It is linked to well-being and happiness, and it helps regulate mood, appetite, and sleep. When serotonin levels are out of balance in the brain or in peripheral sites, depression and sleep problems can occur. Dopamine is produced in several brain areas, including the...

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...

lobes of the cerebrum

How Brain Lobes Shape Perception

The cerebral cortex is divided into two hemispheres, and each hemisphere has four lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital. Together, these lobes support the brain’s main cognitive and sensory jobs. They work as a team to help you think, feel, move, and respond to the world. The frontal lobe sits behind the forehead and acts as a control center for personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movement. It also contains the prefrontal cortex, a region that helps with planning,...

spinal cord

Spinal Cord Nerves and Reflexes

The spinal cord is a major part of the central nervous system. It runs from the base of the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It helps keep the body stable and carries signals between the brain and the rest of the body. The spinal cord sits inside the bony spine for protection. It is divided into 30 segments that match the vertebrae. Each segment connects to a specific body region through paired spinal nerves. These spinal nerves are grouped by where they leave the...

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...

human genetics

Genes, Behavior, and Mental Health

Human genetics explains how genes can influence behavior, emotions, and mental health. It also shows how a person’s genetic code can shape physical traits and the risk of disease. Each individual carries a unique set of genes, so the effects can be subtle or more noticeable. Genes help direct how the brain, hormones, and cells work. These body systems are all shaped by genetic instructions, and they help produce differences in thoughts and behavior. Human genetics therefore links biology with...

genetic material

Chromosomes, DNA, and Inherited Traits

Chromosomes, DNA, and inherited traits explain how genetic information is organized in the human body. Each cell contains a nucleus, and the nucleus holds 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. These chromosomes are tightly coiled structures made of DNA, which carries the instructions passed from parents to offspring. An individual inherits one set of chromosomes from the mother through the egg and one set from the father through the sperm. This combination creates a unique genetic makeup. Of...

genetic variation

How Alleles Shape Inherited Traits

Genetic variation helps explain why individuals in the same species can look and act differently. It comes from differences in DNA sequences. This diversity matters because it helps a species survive and adapt when the environment changes. Variation starts at fertilization, when an egg and sperm cell join. Each of these cells carries 23 chromosomes, so the fertilized egg can have up to 46 chromosomes. Chromosomes are long DNA strands that contain genes, which are the basic units of heredity. <br...

behavioral genetics and its designs

How Behavior Genetics Studies Inheritance

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

Brain Regions and Their Key Functions

The brain is the main control center of the nervous system. It processes sensory input, makes decisions, and directs body actions. Its structure is divided into the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, and each part supports important functions. The hindbrain sits at the base of the brain. It helps regulate automatic life processes. The medulla oblongata controls involuntary functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure. Nearby, the pons acts as a bridge between brain regions,...

evolutionary psychology

Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Evolutionary psychology explains human behavior and mental processes through natural selection. It uses Darwin’s idea that traits can spread when they help survival and reproduction. In this view, some common behaviors may be adaptations that were useful to our ancestors. One clear example is fear of snakes. This fear is nearly universal, which suggests that early humans who avoided snakes were more likely to survive deadly encounters. Over many generations, that caution could be passed on and...

neuroplasticity

How the Brain Rewires Itself

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change its structure and function in response to learning, experience, or injury. It allows neural circuits to reorganize over time. This flexibility supports lifelong development and adaptation. One part of this change begins when dendrites and axons grow. Dendrites receive signals, and axons send them. As they grow, the brain’s circuitry becomes more complex and can support more connections. Next, synaptogenesis occurs. Synaptogenesis is the...

brain imaging

Brain Scanning Techniques

Brain scanning techniques help scientists and doctors see the structure and activity of the human brain. These methods support the diagnosis, study, and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The main techniques include computerized axial tomography, or CT, positron-emission tomography, or PET, magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, and transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS. CT scans use X-ray technology to build detailed...

the endocrine system

Endocrine Glands and Hormone Signals

The endocrine system is a network of glands that send hormone signals through the body. Hormones are chemical messengers that help control many body functions. They enter the bloodstream and travel to cells with the right receptors, or target sites, so the signal can be received. Because of this, hormone effects are widespread, unlike the more localized effects of neurotransmitters. This signaling helps the body keep a stable internal environment, called homeostasis. Several major glands...

somatosensory, motor, and association cortex

somatosensory-motor-and-association-cortex

Brain Cortex Areas for Sensation and Movement

The brain cortex uses separate areas for sensation, movement, and higher thinking. The somatosensory cortex is in the parietal lobes. It helps the brain interpret touch, temperature, and proprioception, which is awareness of body position. The somatosensory cortex has an organized map of the body. Neurons at the top of this region mainly process signals from the lower body. Neurons at the bottom handle input from the upper body. This layout helps the brain locate sensory input with precision.

major hormones and their functions

Hormone Imbalances and Their Effects

Hormones are chemical messengers made by endocrine glands. They help control body functions and keep internal conditions stable. When hormone levels shift too far up or down, normal body processes can be disrupted. Several major hormones have clear roles in the body. Oxytocin is made in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. It supports social bonding, childbirth, and lactation. Low oxytocin can affect social interaction and stress response, and it may contribute to depression.

inheritance

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gene-environment interactions

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heritability

Heritability and the Environment

Heritability describes how genetic differences contribute to trait variation in a population. It is a statistical measure, so it shows how much of the spread in a trait can be linked to genes across a group. It does not tell you how “genetic” a trait is in an individual person. Heritability is usually expressed as a percentage. That percentage can change depending on which population is studied and what environmental conditions are present. This means heritability is context-dependent, not...

natural selection and adaptation

Adaptation in Changing Environments

Natural selection explains how organisms become better suited to their environments over time. It favors individuals with traits that improve survival and reproduction. Adaptation is the result. It includes genetic changes that help an organism function in specific conditions, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes. Adaptation is not only physical. Psychological adaptation also helps organisms, especially humans, succeed in their surroundings. These responses come from both...

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

Social learning theory and evolutionary psychology offer two different ways to explain sexual behavior. A study in which strangers gave students compliments and then asked for casual sex showed a clear gender gap. None of the women said yes, while 70% of the men agreed. Evolutionary psychology explains this result by arguing that natural selection may have shaped women to be more selective about sexual partners. From this view, selectivity can help improve survival and reproductive success. It...

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.

The DNA Helix

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the genetic material responsible for passing traits from generation to generation in all organisms and most viruses. DNA ...

The Central Dogma

The central dogma explains the flow of genetic information from DNA nucleotides to the amino acid sequence of proteins.
RNA is the Missing Link Between ...

Mutations

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genome-size-and-the-evolution-of-new-genes

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

Gene Families

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

types-of-genetic-transfer-between-organisms

Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms

evolutionary-relationships-through-genome-comparisons

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons

Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is ...

Genome Copying Errors

DNA replication is a well-evolved process that copies millions of base pairs with high fidelity during each cell division. Occasionally a wrong base or a ...

Phylogenetic Trees

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of ...

Exon Recombination

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comparing-copy-number-variations-and-snps

Comparing Copy Number Variations and SNPs

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Analyze and interpret scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence. Emphasis is on a conceptual understanding of the role each line of evidence (e.g., similarities in DNA sequences, order of appearance of structure during embryological development, cladograms, homologous and vestigial structures, fossil records) demonstrates as related to common ancestry and biological evolution.

HS-LS4-1

What is Natural Selection?

Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become ...

Types of Selection

Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural ...

Frequency-dependent Selection

When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to ...

Limits to Natural Selection

Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly ...

Natural Selection

Fitness
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Simulating Natural Selection
ExpandTo prepare for the lab, set out workstations for each student pair containing 6 white, 6 black, and 13 gray 12 inch ...

Simulating Natural Selection
ExpandTo begin, cut the white, black, and gray pipe cleaners into quarters, which should produce a total of 100 pieces that ...

Artificial Selection

Natural Selection and Adaptive Evolution
In natural settings, adaptive evolution takes place by natural selection, a process in which differences in ...

Observing Artificial Selection in Plants
ExpandTwo weeks before beginning the pollination experiments, collect a sufficient amount of small pots with a ...

Observing Artificial Selection in Plants 
ExpandTo begin the experiment, collect five two-week old grown plants from the generation one population that ...

Natural Selection and Adaptation

Natural selection drives evolution by supporting organisms that are best adapted to their environments, enhancing their survival and reproduction rates.
...

The principle of natural selection suggests that organisms better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Evolutionary ...

What is Population Genetics?

A population is composed of members of the same species that simultaneously live and interact in the same area. When individuals in a population breed, ...

Genetic Drift

Natural selection&#x2014;probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism&#x2014;increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and ...

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.

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.

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions ...

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

A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share ...

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the ...

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and ...

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species&#x2014;groups of reproductively isolated populations.The ...

Hybrid Zones

Hybrid zones are narrow regions where two closely related species interact, mate, and produce hybrids. Relative to either parent species, hybrids may ...

Extinction

The History of Life on Earth
Fossils of organisms that were different from anything alive today had been documented as early as the 17th century, but it ...

Diversity and Extinction during the Paleogene Epoch
ExpandFirst, familiarize yourself with the extinction reading supplement for the background on what ...

Diversity and Extinction during the Paleogene Epoch
ExpandBegin this procedure by reading the extinction reading supplement that has been printed out for ...

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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