Evolution and Natural Selection

Evolution, Mating, and Deception

Any inherited mechanism or trait that enabled human ancestors to successfully deceive others would be selected for if (1) its use conferred a benefit that contributed to propogation of their genes, and (2) the benefits of its use, on average, outweighed its costs. From an evolutionary perspective, successful mating refers to mating that produces offspring that are likely to survive and thrive. In species that sexually reproduce each offspring carries 50 percent of each of its parents' genes. Thus, producing offspring is the most efficient way to replicate one's genes. Therefore, successful mating is one of the most important processes that drive evolution. However, successful mating requires the solving of a number of distinct adaptive problems. Some of these adaptive problems are similar for men and women; some are different.

In humans, gestation occurs internally within women. Therefore, whereas men can produce an offspring by investing only the time and energy required for a single act of copulation, women must invest substantially more time and energy because of an infant's nine-month gestational period. Because men and women invest different amounts of time and energy into producing a child, they have evolved somewhat different mating psychologies.

Successfully attracting a mate involves outcompeting same-sex rivals for a desired mate's attention. Attracting a mate can involve deception to the extent that one's looks, kindness, generosity, sexual chastity, loyalty, or social status are strategically misrepresented during courtship. Attracting a mate may also involve intentionally misrepresenting information about one's same-sex rivals.

Men have faced the adaptive problem of identifying women who are able to conceive and produce healthy offspring. Therefore, men's evolved mate preferences focus on a woman's physical appearance. Various physical features are considered universally attractive (e.g., smooth, clear, wrinkle-free skin; large, clear eyes; long, thick, lustrous hair; a low waist-to-hip ratio of approximately 0.7 to 0.8; symmetrical features; and firm, symmetrical breasts) because these features are reliable indicators of a women's reproductive value. Therefore, women use a variety of products, techniques, and procedures (ranging from the use of makeup, push-up and padded bras, corsets and belts, and slimming clothing to diet and exercise and the extremes of plastic surgery) to misrepresent the extent to which they possess the features that men desire.

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