1. Discussion 8: Fertility and Choice

2. For nearly all mammals, the brief high-fertility window just preceding ovulation
marks the only time when sex can result in reproduction.

3. Two Sides to the Same Story
Female and Male Reproductive Success
Enhanced sexual interest in Enhanced sexual interest in
reproductively-fit males at high reproductively-fit females
fertility
Mate choice at high fertility Mating behavior with
high-fertility females
Female Reproductive Success Male reproductive success

4. Big question for evolutionary psychologists:
Do humans experience changes in sexuality across the
ovulatory cycle?

5. General research paradigm
What methods have Dr. Haselton and others employed
to determine whether the high-fertility window
during a woman’s ovulatory cycle has effects on
behavior?
How do researchers verify ovulation?

6. Reproductive Fitness/ Genetic Quality
What features can we use to detect a genetically high
quality mate for reproduction?
Symmetry
Masculine/feminine secondary sexual characteristics:
facial features
voice
WHR
MHC compatibility

7. Are only characteristics of genetic quality
relevant for choosing a mate?
What are other characteristics do we look for in
a mate?
Cooperative nature: kind, reliable, humorous,
affectionate, interesting
Material resources

8. Genetic vs Personality/Materialistic Benefits
If women have evolved psychological adaptations to select for
genetic quality during their most fertile phase of their
ovulatory cycle, then….
1. Women’s preferences for traits historically associated with
genetic benefits will become stronger at high fertility
2. Women’s preferences for traits historically associated with
non-genetic benefits will not change across the ovulatory
cycle

9. Genetic vs Personality/Materialistic Benefits
If men have evolved psychological adaptations to select
for fertility in women, then….
1. Men will show stronger attraction to peri-ovulatory women
compared to other phases of the ovulatory cycle.
Why? Because having sex with women can only lead to
reproduction if those women are at high fertility (near
ovulation)... and this has been true throughout human
evolution

10. Is there evidence of psychological adaptations that
detect fertility?
Short answer: probably
Long answer (incorporate the following points):
• Women’s choice of clothing
• Voice
• Natural body scents
• Real-world lap dance tips

11. How do cycling women compare to non-cycling
women (on hormonal contraceptives)?

12. Human females are said to have “concealed ovulation.”
What does this mean?
Recent research has called into question whether human
ovulation is actually concealed. Describe each of the outward
(but subtle!) cues of ovulation that have been measured

13. What does Trivers’ parental investment theory
predict about men’s & women’s mating behavior
(briefly)?
Does parental investment theory apply to
humans?
(Hint: think about how much investment a human baby
really requires from each parent)

14. In 1970 Edgar Berman, M.D., surgeon and political consultant
was forced to resign from his post on the Democratic National
Committee’s Planning Council after saying that women could
not be leaders because of their "raging hormonal
imbalances."
Why do people get upset over the idea that women's
behaviors are affected by hormones?
Do people also get upset when research documents effects of
testosterone on men's behavior? Would anyone ever say that
raging testosterone cycles disqualify men from being
president? Why not?
What if men had menstrual cycles? How would that change
things, if at all?

15. Sex and Politics – New Alignments, Old Issues
By Kathleen Frakovic
Cites Berelson, Lazarsfeld and McPhee work called Voting
1940-60s: no relationship between vote preference and sex

16. Fertility and race perception predict voter preference for
Barack Obama ☆
Carlos David Navarretea, Melissa M. McDonalda, Michael L. Motta, Joseph
Cesarioa,Robert Sapolskyb, c

17. Internet survey:
Adult, non-pregnant, premenopausal women not currently using oral
contraceptives, normal menstrual cycle lengths, forward counting method
used to assess cycle timing
Which candidate do you think you will support in the Nov. 2008
Presidential Election: Barack Obama, Democrat; John McCaine, Republican;
different candidate; not sure/undecided; no vote; decline to state
Political orientation: 1=Liberal, 7-Conservative
Skin color perception bias:

20. The Fluctuating Female Vote: Politics, Religion,
and the Ovulatory Cycle
Durante, Arsena & Grskevicus

21. 2012 Presidential Election: single women strongly
prefer liberal candidates
Single women @ ovulations : More Liberal
Less Religious
More likely to vote Obama
Married women @ovulation: More conservative
More religious
More likely to vote Romney

22. Does fertility lend itself to liberalism?
If hormonal cycling effects decision making, should
we be cautious of trusting a woman’s decisions?