Roughgarden said that pairings are often better explained by creating a viable team than by finding the highest quality genes. Couples are usually genetically similar, she said, and their differences are often complementary: Both members provide the team with the strengths the other lacks.
"To make an analogy with humans, the number of children a couple can raise to adulthood is more influenced by the income of the family rather than the genetic makeup," Akcay said. "We think that in most species, this is what is going on: Males and females choose each other for ecological benefits rather than superior genetic makeups."
Read more here, including criticisms, hat tip to www.politicaltheory.info for the pointer.
I don’t get why there’s anything special about this article. Evolutionary psychology has always theorized that women have two mating strategies: (1) find a man who will be able to provide for offspring so they have a better chance of living to adulthood (2) have a child with an “alpha male” because his alpha-male genes will make up for not being around to provide for his child.
Actually, based on the short article, it looks like their theories are very similar to Becker’s theory of marriage.
Especially look at the sections of the paper where he discusses assortative mating.
and a third, optimal strategy: collect the genes of the alpha males whenever they are availible, but simultaneously have a long-term partnership with a beta to provide for these kids.
You’ve uncovered the deepest and darkest fear of every beta male in the world.
Talking about this topic have a look at this:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,186301,00.html “> Eating More Chocolate May Be Better for Your Health
Weird fact: Joan Roughgarden used to be Jonathan Roughgarden.
I would imagine that Ms. Roughgarden’s theory holds true only if botht he male and female have an equal investment in raising the offspring. And since the handicap principle seems to do a better job of explaining everything else, I’m not quite sure why this cooperative approach might be better, but maybe I’m missing something.
Cosmetic Surgery May Improve Sex Life, Study Shows
Have a look at this sex study
Funny this happend in the same week
DHS Gets New Faith-Based Office
DHS Press Secretary Arrested on Child Seduction Charges
SHE SHOULD HAVE gotte this sooner
good news at least
Enron’s Lay, Skilling Found Guilty of Conspiracy and Fraud
this is what happends when one loses his mind…in its entirety
Hamas Militants Storm Palestinian TV Facility
Robert Byrd Makes History as Longest-Serving Senator
this is quite something…
Israeli Ground Forces Launch New Attacks in Northern Gaza
THIS IS NOTHING….
Can you understand this….
Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Rejects Rice Proposal
this is not such a great sign
Democrats Back Lamont; Lieberman Files for Independent Run
oh boy
Suspect Arrested in JonBenet Ramsey Murder
pretty crazy stuff…
Hurricane John Upgraded to Category 4 Storm
oh well here we go again
Pakistan: We Will Capture Bin Laden If He’s Found
this does not seem very good
Chavez Says U.S. Empire Will Soon Fall, Calls Bush ‘Devil’
WELL OFF WE GO i GUESS
Renewed Activity Seen at Suspected North Korea Test Sites, U.S. Intelligence Says
so what is with war
Bush: We Will Consider All Proposals to Help Iraq
Rumsfeld Is Gone
fuwdwo
xswdcwewe
Two Missing Climbers Still Sought; Body of Third Identified
ASXASA
New Secretary-General to Fill 2 U.N. Posts This Week, Could Bring Controversy
wedfwdcfwfwo
White House Tries to Sell Iraq Plan to Skeptical Republicans
wddwedwed
In Video, Al Qaeda No. 2 Al-Zawahiri Taunts President Bush’s New Iraq Plan
sddqwddwweigu
Officials: White House Holding Back Report Detailing Iran’s Meddling in Iraq
QDQDQW
Illiegal Immigrants Require 6 Arrests to Warrant Federal Prosecution in Texas, Memo Says
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