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Sex Appeal

• “Listen to me, I’ll get you laid”
• Gender linked because of different goals:
• For men it’s sex with ease and no complications
• In other words, attract more women that want to have sex with you
• For women it’s attract more men from which to choose
• Select the best among the possible choices, and the greater the selection, the better the choice

Sex Appeal

• Male and female animals have different sexual strategies based on the cost of sex
• Males are promiscuous because the cost is very low
• A little time, a little energy, then move on
• Criteria are simple – she has to be there, breathing, and impregnable
• Females are picky because the cost is so high
• Lots of time, lots of energy
• Must select the best possible male, not the nearest
• Criteria can be complex

• Non-humans are concerned with genetics
• Males want, on an instinctive level, to have as many offspring as possible to ensure genetic success
• Females, because of the cost of reproduction, on an instinctive level want the best genes in their male
• Males compete with other males, usually physically, to demonstrate they’re the best choice
• Females select the winner because he’s shown he’s better than the other males

• For most animals, it is the female that deals with raising offspring (a major part of the cost of sex)
• The male has no place in rearing offspring (she’ll even drive him away)
• The major exception is birds
• Even there, the female will often select one male as the father, and another male to help her raise the chicks

Sex appeal in humans

• Humans have the most complex social life on Earth
• Instinctive criteria for men are the same as for any other male animal – she’s there
• Criteria for women is far more complex:
• Not just genetically, but socially:
• Be a good father – help with raising children
• be a good provider – have money, social connections, etc.