Abstract This paper argues at length that Buss' article, while well-written and generally well-researched, fails to contemplate a number of issues which spring up around the topic of mate selection. It looks at how because of this, Buss appears to offer simply a rationale or even an "excuse" for a social construct that does, indeed, reduce women to a reproductive role and little more than that; he also unwittingly gives credence to the fairly superficial nature of our society vis-a-vis sexual relations between the genders.
Outline
Critique and Transition
Buss' Treatment of Environmental Factors
Buss' Discussion (or Non-Discussion) of Disability Hierarchies
Buss and the Politics of Reproduction
Political Implications Raised by each of the Aforementioned Issues
Conclusions
From the Paper "Turning momentarily to environmental influences, it is evident that Buss cleaves to the position that biology and not society (for the most part) shapes who we wed and who we choose not to wed; for instance, the male desire for physically attractive, nubile and healthy women extends across all cultures. However, he acknowledges that factors such as chastity and the desirable "plumpness" of a potential mate are determined to some extent by cultural or societal factors such as the relative availability of food in a particular community. The strength of Buss' article, in the view of this reader, lies in his ability to illustrate the persistence in certain trends across cultures - while conceding, where necessary, that cultural externalities can play some role (Buss, 2003). "
An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of David Buss' arguments in his chapter "Men Want Something Else," within "The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating."
Abstract This paper critiques the chapter, "Men Want Something Else," within "The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating" by David M. Buss, in which he writes about the criteria men apply when choosing a mate. The paper shows how Buss brings together the two areas of research, the evolutionary psychology of human mating strategies and conflict between the sexes. The paper also looks at the strengths and the weaknesses of Buss' arguments.
From the Paper "Thus, when Buss (1994) can find evidence of all men liking similar things, then that is biology. When he cannot, then that is social - but it is linked to biology in a way that men are unconscious of. But whichever way you cut it, it is all about having as many babies as possible. Men in western cultures like slim women because slim women have higher status, which in turn gives higher status to the man who has her on his arm, and which in turn enables him to better protect his children, thus better passing on his genes. This is simplistic, and ignores many realities of our society. For example, take the stereotypical "deadbeat dad." What biological impetrative is he following when he runs off with his secretary, leaving his children living in poverty? How has his gene pool made it through the centuries?"
Abstract This paper discusses and reviews David M. Buss's article, "Men Want Something Else." It looks at what the article says about men and their choices, but suggests that it is extraordinarily lacking in any information about what women want or feel. The paper argues that in fact we should not take anything in this article too seriously, as most of it is based on unproven assumptions.
From the Paper "As we have seen, Buss's argument is much like an onion. It looks pretty solid on the outside - but as fast as one peels off one layer of assumptions, one uncovers another layer of assumptions just beneath. And once one has peeled off all the layers of assumptions, there is pretty much nothing left - apart from a very cleverly written apologia for male superficiality. It is thus concluded that Buss's argument fails, and we are left to speculate as to why it is that men marry. Personally, I suspect it has to do with having someone to pick up dirty socks off the bedroom floor and throw them in the laundry. Indeed, this could explain the male preference for young women, as they are more easily able to bend over! However, let us leave the ingenious marshalling of assumptions to vindicate the status quo to male writers - after all, it is they who benefit most from the maintenance of the status quo."
Analysis of book of study on the psychological mechanisms of why and how people choose, keep & disregard their mates. Author's use of evolutionary theory.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 79.95
From the Paper "In The Evolution of Desire, (BasicBooks, 1994), David Buss presents us with the results of a study involving over 10,000 people from 37 cultures and uses evolutionary theory to explain the psychological mechanisms behind how and why people choose, keep, and discard their mates. The result is a mixture of common sense and science, although certainly other perspectives could be invoked to explain his findings.
Mating, according to Buss, is not a sentimental activity: it is, rather, as competitive and manipulative on the human level as it is among the insects. To provide for themselves and their offspring, women seek good providers -? men with money, power, maturity, ambition, stability, commitment, health, and cooperative natures. Men, for similar reasons, invest their time, resources, and sperm in young..."
Abstract The paper investigates many factors relating to open drinking water reservoirs such as water purification, toxic chemicals and testing systems. The paper shows the risks faced by Portland's reservoir which include the dumping of prescription drugs, waste from tankers and busses and the threat of radon in the drinking water. The paper suggests ways in which the Portland municipality could improve the situation through testing and legislation. It also includes maps of the area to illustrate points.
From the Paper "While the water is safe perhaps it is not sterilized, which means that it does contain chemicals and other killer organisms. The best way to handle this situation is by protecting and regularly monitoring water from the main source so as to eliminate the possibility of potential contamination later on. To purify the water, treatment practices are used to get rid of the pathogenic organisms that are liable to enter into the water in the reservoir. Most of the water treatment techniques and technologies were actually developed several years ago to cure chloera and typhoid. These techniques are still applicable because they can still protect the public today like they have been for nearly a century. However, the new contaminants require new techniques to treat them, such as pathogens."
This paper argues against the conclusions of Gary Orfield's book "Dismantling Desegregation", that segregation is slowly becoming the norm again in many communities.
Abstract This paper explains that Orfield is making an argument for entitlement: All students are entitled to the same educational opportunities and that measures must be taken to ensure that children, especially black children, are not forsaken these opportunities. The author feels that Orfield fails to make the distinction between racial segregation and the social or market forces that compel poor blacks to live in the same neighborhood. The author cites that in the two cases of Grutter vs. Bollinger and Gratz vs. Bollinger, the Supreme Court questioned the very notion that the government should allow state-funded institutions to maintain race-based methods of selection to insure the diversity of an applicant pool.
From the Paper "Orfield is quick to demonize Nixon, Reagan, and Bush, who are all coincidentally Republican conservatives, for trying to turn back the clock on desegregation. Orfield finally does refer to bussing in the context of the Green decision and the Keyes and Swann decision, he calls it ?student transportation as a means for integration.? (pg. 6) Because most students of this phenomenon know the process as ?bussing,? one can assume that his failure to use this term is deliberate. However, we are left unsure as to whether his deliberate omission of the term is due to a possible negative connotation of the word, or a general distaste for clich?s. To omit the word ?bussing,? given its negative connotation in the eyes of those that have live with and experienced it, would be to engage in a shrewd charade of semantic manipulation. We are inclined to argue in favor of objectivity in that he also eschews the phrase ?turn back the clock.? He cleverly sidesteps this one by naming the chapter ?Turning Back to Desegregation,? leaving out the beloved clock."
Abstract This paper presents research studies that show that people who are optimistic will feel better about themselves and the world around them; which in turn correlates to better health. The author continues to review the five mechanisms by which optimism might promote good health. There is also a case study on the correlation of good health to two of the mechanisms (Larsen & Buss, 2008).
From the Paper "Optimists tend to have external, unstable and specific explanations for the bad events that they undergo. In other words, the optimist understands that the situation could not have been avoided, and does not apply the "misfortune" to account of other flaws or mishaps in his life. Pessimists, however, tend to blame unfortunate events on internal, stable and global explanations. Optimism and pessimism are now seen as traits that people possess as parts of their personality on which they differ. Optimists do not believe that they influence the events in their lives, but rather the outcomes to the events; pessimists tend to assume a helpless attitude, believing that bad events will have long lasting effects on many aspects of their lives (Larsen & Buss, 2008).
"In the realm of psychology, there are four main definitions outlined in the text of what optimism actually is, but only three will be discussed here. We already established that according to the attributional style, "...the optimism construct...refers to the explanatory style for bad events being to blame on stable, global, and internal causes." The term dispositional optimism has been offered by Scheier and Carver, and basically says that optimists believe that they will have success in more areas of their life than they will not have success in. Self-efficacy, another form of optimism, is the belief that one can achieve a desired outcome by simply performing the acts necessary for the results (Larsen & Buss, 2008)."
Abstract This paper examines the implicit factors in determining whether a love relationship defined as caring support will last. The author emphasizes the research by R.J. Sternberg, which divides love into three subcategories of intimacy, passion and commitment. The paper proposes a research study, which is based on the reported literature review and uses a methodology of interviewing students by means of questionnaires. This research will evaluate if there have been changes noted in the intensity, passion or commitment of the subjects' love toward another persons or of the love shown to them by their partners. If there have been changes, the author seeks to identify and analyze the factors causing these changes.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Study by Berg and McQuinn
Study by Jones, Mirenberg, Pelham and Carvallo
Study by Sternberg
Lasting Love
The Biology of Love
Study by Haselton and Buss Continuing Love
Participants in Study
Materials
Procedure
From the Paper "The authors concluded that people's feelings, judgments and behaviors are influenced very much by unconscious processes (as Banaji & Greenwald found in 1995, Bargh, Chen and Burroughs found in 1996, and Bargh and Furguson found in 2000) in laboratory experiments. Even though these suggestions appear to influence human behavior in lab experiments, this study by Jones and his associates brings forth substantial evidence that people choose not only where they live and what they eat, but who their life-long partner will be, based on implicit social cognition influences."
