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Psychology of Gender Final Exam Study Guide

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Psychology of Gender Final Exam Study Guide
Chapter 9:Romantic Relationships (research on homosexual relationships can help distinguish between sex and status)

I. RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT a. Characteristics Desired in a Mate * Women seek men that are attractive, educated, good financial status and good work ethic * Both men and women look for physical attractiveness and healthy as moist important for a sexual partner b. Evidence * Men desire physical attractiveness in a partner * Women desire intelligence or occupational status * Gay men and lesbians look for same qualities in a mate as heterosexuals * Affection, shared interests, similarity and dependability * No evidence that lesbians value a mate’s resources * Status is less important in relationships among minorities (gays, lesbians, bisexuals) * Homosexual men value mate’s physical attractiveness * Lesbians do not * Lesbians more likely than gay men to have similar personalities * Men and women agree on the most important characteristics a partner should possess * Especially for long-term relationships c. Explanations * Evolutionary theory: women and men behave in ways that will maximize survival of their genes * David Buss * Adaptive for our ancestors * We inherited their genes and behaviors * Behavior driven by desire to reproduce * Men fertility * Women high occupational status * Young beautiful women coupled with older wealthy men is the exception (Anna Nicole Smith, Hugh Heffner, Donald Trump) * Men are predicted to be more promiscuous (may be minimized when women are ovulating) * Social role theory: division of labor between sexes is directly linked to the sex differences in mate selection * Females look for males with high earning capacity

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