Dear Steve,
I may be completely missing the point here, but for module 3 (sex
differences), the evolutionary theory of human behaviour regarding sex
differences in reproductive strategies seems quite straight forward.
Symons and Buss are suggesting distal reasons for human sexuality
today, eg males seek lots of mates to help increase the chances of
reporductive success in terms of passing on their genes. But although
from the Benbow and McGlone article, there appear to be sex differnces
in brain asymmetry (although this is heavily debated from a
physiological point of view, and different studies report differing
results), and the Benbow article clearly demonstrates a sex difference
in exremely high levels of mathematical ability in favour of males. She
then goes on to explain this in terms of environmental hypotheses which
are rejected (such as socialisation of females, meaning they have a less
positive attitude to maths and therefore perform less well). She
suggests some biological explanations, myopia, allergies,
lefthandedness etc as illustrations of how these differences may be
explained. But how does this link to evolutionary theory? I guess if
the biological explanations are accepted then there is an explanation
for males' higher ability which relates to the EEA, where males were the
hunters, and this sort of intelligence or way of thinking was more
advantageous for males than females who looked after the offspring.
Good mathematical ability, although it can't have been maths ability
then, and must have a better developed right hemisphere or something,
must have been selected for in males because it lead to some sort of
reproductive advantage. What this advantage was, I am unsure. Maybe
females preferred males with this ability because they would be more
able to provide for their offspring???
Are there any commentaries related to this? I have looked through but
they all seemed related to methodologcal questions, and EEA
explanations aren't mentioned.
Hoping you will be able to make sense of my confusion!
Thanks, Catherine
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