Buss (1989)

Front 1

Aim of Buss' study (1989)

Back 1

Aimed to study evolutionary theory about mate selection. Also aimed to see if, regardless of culture women prefer men who are ambitious, hard working and rich and men prefer women who are young, attractive and chaste.

Front 2

Evolutionary context of Buss' study (1989)

Charles Darwin

Back 2

Charles Darwin said through natural selection that mate selection is a matter of evolution. Those who got to survive and reproduce passed their genes onto the next generation. Therefore, men have to look for fertile women and women have to look for men who will look after them & their offspring.
This suggests further study is needed to confirm what factors people use to select a mate.

Front 3

Academic context of Buss' study (1989)

Trivers (1972)

Back 3

Trivers (1972) proposed that parental investment was important. Therefore, because women have to invest more time they are fussier about choosing a mate.

Front 4

Procedure of Buss' study. (1989)

Participants
Sampling method
Questionnaires

Back 4

10,047 pps, 33 countries, 37 cultures.
4,601 male, 5,446 female.
Average age 23.05 years.
Sampling method varied. (e,g. some applying for marriage licence)

Pps asked to complete 2 questionnaires.
1 = factors effecting mate choice (0=irrelevant, 3=indispensable) for 18 different characteristics including age, good looks, good financial prospects, chastity, ambition and industriousness.
2 = rank 13 factors in order of importance when selecting mate including good earning capasity and physical attractiveness.

Front 5

Findings of Buss' study. (1989)

Where was importance placed
Ideal mate age

Back 5

In 36/37 cultures women placed importance on financial prospects more than men. In 34/37 cultures women placed more emphasis on ambition & being hardworking then men. However, in parts of Africa men thought this was more important than women.

Men's average ideal mate was 24.83 years, women's was 28.81. In all 37 cultures men wanted younger & women wanted older mate.

All cultures men rated good looks as more important and in 23/37 cultures men rated chastity as more important. Chastity showed greatest cultural differences.

Front 6

Conclusion of Buss' study. (1989)

How men select mates
How women select mates
Evolutionary Theory

Back 6

Men select mates based on age and attractiveness and attractiveness and women select a mate based on earning capacity, ambition and being hardworking.

He concluded that evolutionary theory was correct.

Front 7

Evaluation of methodology of Buss' study. (1989)
Strengths.

Back 7

Good sample size = 10,047. Wide range of countries and cultures, easily to generalise.

Using scales to measure desirability of mate characteristics kept answers consistent. By using 2 questionnaires with different approaches reduced extraneous variables. High in validity.

Front 8

Evaluation of methodology of Buss' study. (1989)
Weaknesses.

Back 8

Sampling methods.
Different countries selected in different ways. Samples are not representative.

Ethical issues = study is socially sensitive and reinforces a double standard.

Front 9

Critically assess Buss' study. (1989)
Supporting evidence.

Pillsworth, Hastleton & Buss (2004)
Roberts et al (2004)

Back 9

Pillsworth, Hastleton & Buss (2004) who studied if sexual desire in general and for long-term partners in particular increased when a women was ovulating. Found women's sexual desire peaked around ovulation, but only for women with a partner. Suggests that there are evolutionary factors in mate selection.

Roberts et al (2004) found that men rate women as more attractive when they are ovulating.

Front 10

Critically assess Buss' study. (1989)
Evidence against.

Thornhill & Palmer (2000)
Rose & Rose (2000)

Back 10

Thornhill & Palmer (200) suggested that rape is a mechanism that unsuccessful males use to pass on their genes.

Rose & Rose (2000) argues that this made rape socially acceptable and that it was inevitable. They said that men choose to rape.