ANT-2301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Major Histocompatibility Complex, Body Odor, Histocompatibility
Document Summary
Increase in pair-bonding between the sexes (long-term_ Due to investment, females face several adaptive problems in finding the right mate. Females/males evolved preferences that enable them to assess traits that indicate fitness level. Biological traits: personality based on perceived facial features and length of relationship, preferential changes in preferred odor, mhc- major histocompatibility complex, male preferences, the age factor, male preferences vs. female preferences. Penton-voak et al. , (1999): found that females preferred masculine- looking faces at ovulation, but less masculine faces when not fertile. Females using oral contraception revealed no cyclical change in facial preference. Females did not have an overall preference for symmetry but this was irrespective of menstrual cycle phase. Females prefer a more feminized face during luteal phase. May indicate increased parental care (lower testosterone levels) Short term/high risk--- more masculine face preferred. Feminine ( cared sharing") men at other times. Similar patterns of change with menstrual cycle observed for voice preferences.
