“Summarise and evaluate the two papers. What are the implications of this work for Buss et al. (1992)?”
This essay aims to further investigate sex differences in jealousy, using Buss et al’s 1992 study as a reference. Evaluating evolutionary psychology and using related supporting and critiquing research to consider a more reasoned analysis in response to the original theory and will subsequently lead to increased understanding and potential aid in scenarios regarding romantic infidelity such as therapy, which is known to be found difficult due to not yet being understood to the extent required. Two referenced studies will be discussed and evaluated, alongside their implications on the original (Buss, Larsen, Westen, & Semmelroth, 1992) …show more content…
The aim of the study was to further delve into the concept of jealousy occurring differently within females as it does in males, focusing on evolutionary psychology, in regard to childbearing and loss of resources through infidelity. Participants were given two hypothetical scenarios, one involving sexual infidelity and the other involving emotional infidelity, and were asked to identify which one they found more distressing. The results indicated emotional infidelity was perceived as more upsetting for women and men found sexual infidelity more distressing. This was shown not only in their voiced responses but in their physiological responses as well. This presented a further understanding of human relationships and adaptation that has occurred to cause these subconscious physiological responses to emotional triggers, and how they differ between men and …show more content…
This research has aided the understanding of evolutionary psychology, and can subsequently help in everyday scenarios such as making therapy less challenging for the therapist as jealousy can be understood to certain extents. On the other hand, evolutionary psychology can only account for certain aspects within the nature of jealousy and relationships, social psychology and cultural changes and difficulties may also account for certain results found. For example, the nature of committed relationships has changed over the past decades, no longer being represented of the importance it used to be, romance is somewhat looked down upon, and in today’s society in some subcultures may no longer be valued, particularly seen in male friendship groups. This may, therefore, change the responses over time, and should be researched constantly, however, it will pose difficult to ever have full clarification and come to a definitive conclusion of what is the main cause of jealousy as multiple aspects may play a role and may change over time as relationships develop and adhere to social and cultural norms. However, Buss has established a significantly plausible evolutionary explanation for the underlying reasoning involved when looking into sex
This essay aims to further investigate sex differences in jealousy, using Buss et al’s 1992 study as a reference. Evaluating evolutionary psychology and using related supporting and critiquing research to consider a more reasoned analysis in response to the original theory and will subsequently lead to increased understanding and potential aid in scenarios regarding romantic infidelity such as therapy, which is known to be found difficult due to not yet being understood to the extent required. Two referenced studies will be discussed and evaluated, alongside their implications on the original (Buss, Larsen, Westen, & Semmelroth, 1992) …show more content…
The aim of the study was to further delve into the concept of jealousy occurring differently within females as it does in males, focusing on evolutionary psychology, in regard to childbearing and loss of resources through infidelity. Participants were given two hypothetical scenarios, one involving sexual infidelity and the other involving emotional infidelity, and were asked to identify which one they found more distressing. The results indicated emotional infidelity was perceived as more upsetting for women and men found sexual infidelity more distressing. This was shown not only in their voiced responses but in their physiological responses as well. This presented a further understanding of human relationships and adaptation that has occurred to cause these subconscious physiological responses to emotional triggers, and how they differ between men and …show more content…
This research has aided the understanding of evolutionary psychology, and can subsequently help in everyday scenarios such as making therapy less challenging for the therapist as jealousy can be understood to certain extents. On the other hand, evolutionary psychology can only account for certain aspects within the nature of jealousy and relationships, social psychology and cultural changes and difficulties may also account for certain results found. For example, the nature of committed relationships has changed over the past decades, no longer being represented of the importance it used to be, romance is somewhat looked down upon, and in today’s society in some subcultures may no longer be valued, particularly seen in male friendship groups. This may, therefore, change the responses over time, and should be researched constantly, however, it will pose difficult to ever have full clarification and come to a definitive conclusion of what is the main cause of jealousy as multiple aspects may play a role and may change over time as relationships develop and adhere to social and cultural norms. However, Buss has established a significantly plausible evolutionary explanation for the underlying reasoning involved when looking into sex