Evolutionary Explanations of Gender Behaviour

Here is the presentation from last week's lesson. You need to be able to outline the key assumptions of the evolutionary approach - that our behaviour is controlled (or at least influenced) by genes, and that it has evolved to be adaptive in the EEA. There is important general evaluation here - that is, evaluation of the whole approach (in terms of nature over nurture, reductionism and determinism, and in terms of scientific testability).

Useful explanations of gender behaviour are the 'division of labour' theory (not in your textbook) which focuses on hunting / gathering and child rearing roles, and the 'parental investment' theory and its effects on mate-choice and reproductive behaviour.