Sex Differences Sexually Explicit Media, Gender Differences and Evolutionary Theory By Margaretha Kasim, Artesia McDaniel and Thomas Valencia

Introduction  Two Major Problems addressed by Malmuth (1996) -Overly simplistic view of evolutionary models -Distrust of ideological implications

The Evolutionary Framework  Darwin’s natural selection  Evolution=continuous process of differential reproductive success or fitness  Malmuth suggest a complete theory of evolution is one that incorporates Darwin’s natural selection as well as the design of the mind, as formed by evolutionary processes and its interaction with the environment

Variability in Human Behavior  Differences in mechanisms have resulted from natural selection of different solutions to adapative problems (which includes gender)

Variability in Human Behavior  Environmental Differences -provide different input to the evolved mechanism -influence the development of various mechanisms at certain times -influence how people select their environment

Evolutionary Metatheory  Provides a framework for predicting the presence or absence of gender differences  Male and female face different evolutionary problems causing the mechanisms of both to evolve differently.  A major area of evolutionary difference =sexuality

Sexuality and Sex Differences  Psychological mechanisms governing male sexuality are not the same as female sexuality due to different reproductive consequences of sexual behavior  Females produce greater parental investment  Males produce greater reproductive success

Evolutionary Psychology and Pornography  Gender differences in sexual media can be understood by using sexual strategies that evolved differently  Consumption of sexually explicit media is the result of inherited differences in evolved sexuality mechanisms interacting with environmental forces

Sex Differences in Media Consumption  Males more frequently view sexually explicit media reflecting elements of males short- term sexual strategy  Females consume less reflecting their long- term sexual strategy

Strategies, Stages and Associative Networks  4 stages for humans in sexual sequence  Associative Networks

Attraction  Males “designed” to be more visually attracted to and aroused by sexual stimuli of the opposite sex  Females more attracted by males auditory ad tactile stimulation

Similarity of Evolutionary Adaptive Problems and Content of Sexually Explicit Media  Males Short-Term Problems 1. # of avail. Partners 2. Sexual accessibility 3. Fertility of woman 4. Minimizing investment  Content, Male- targeted Pornography 1. Numerous women 2. Women eager serve 3. Youthful women 4. Casual sex with no investment

Similarity of Evolutionary Problems and Content of Female Targeted Porn  Females Long Term Mating Problem 1. Id of man who is able to invest in her 2. Physical protection 3. Problem of identifying mate with good parental skills  Content of Female Targeted Porn 1. High status man who desires her 2. Man is powerful 3. Man becomes kind and gentle with her by end of script