Survival of the Sexy

Opty · Nov 18, 2012

Totally explains why I survive.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323551004578116903873762428.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet

Some years ago, the evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller in his book "The Mating Mind" explored the notion that since human males woo their mates with art, poetry, music and humor, as well as with brawn, much of the expansion of our brain may have been sexually selected.

Recently Jason Collins and two colleagues at the University of Western Australia, in a discussion paper posted on the Web, have made the case that sexual selection explains civilization itself. They mathematically explored the possibility that "as females prefer males who conspicuously consume, an increasing proportion of males engage in innovation, labor and other productive activities in order to engage in conspicuous consumption. These activities contribute to technological progress and economic growth."

Plot Device · Nov 18, 2012

Sex, money, and power.

What else is new?

Williebee · Nov 18, 2012

So, by extension, are we biologically programmed to consume our planet, and be attracted to those who will help us do that?

muravyets · Nov 18, 2012

Williebee said:
So, by extension, are we biologically programmed to consume our planet, and be attracted to those who will help us do that?

Aren't all species?

Of course, we also have the biological capacity to moderate our behavior for longer term benefit. So I guess this concept begs the question of what the patterns of sexual selection cover -- which actually comes out to a whole raft of questions: Do we select only for the drive to consume, or are we selecting for a mate who will be driven to produce so that we may consume? Are we selecting for productivity or for non-productive supportiveness so that we may have the time and energy to fulfill our own individual drive to produce and consume? Or are we selecting for intelligence to produce and consume for maximum benefit? Do such patterns of selection remain constant, indicating a trajectory for the species? Or do they vary, and if so, do they vary by location or by period, or both?

Williebee · Nov 18, 2012

Yeah, probably. So, maybe we should be investing more time and effort trying to move off planet?

missesdash · Nov 18, 2012

Humans are weird.

muravyets · Nov 18, 2012

I'm willing to support any voluntary program that will open new vistas to those humans who select for conspicuous consumption, and thereby encourage them to move away from me.

neilfriske · Nov 18, 2012

This is crazy

Seraph · Nov 18, 2012

figaroooooooooooooo

leahzero · Nov 18, 2012

Funny how this completely ignores the role of the female (assuming the competing for mates scenario) in sexual selection. Wouldn't females require sophisticated capacities for discernment, judgment, evaluation of potential mates, etc.? Why aren't these qualities mentioned in sexual selection?

Opty · Nov 18, 2012

leahzero said:
Funny how this completely ignores the role of the female (assuming the competing for mates scenario) in sexual selection. Wouldn't females require sophisticated capacities for discernment, judgment, evaluation of potential mates, etc.? Why aren't these qualities mentioned in sexual selection?

It actually doesn't ignore it at all. Did you read the article?

In human beings, females compete for males as well as vice versa. In many species, sexual selection is a force that acts on only one sex, usually the male. Peahens, which can share the best males and don't require them to be diligent parents after mating, do not grow colorful tails. But in other species, notably some seabirds and parrots, where males and females share parenting duties equally, both sexes are equally colorful—a result of competition by both sexes to attract the best mates.

Zoombie · Nov 18, 2012

Seraph said:
The way the article paints us, we aren't actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but we humans do not. We move to an area and multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed, and the only way we can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. We're a plague.
/plagiarism

That's...not how animals work at all.

Opty · Nov 18, 2012

Indeed. Just because a line sounds cool in The Matrix doesn't mean it has any scientific validity.

Alessandra Kelley · Nov 18, 2012

So human males do creative stuff to attract human females?

Why do human females do creative stuff?

kuwisdelu · Nov 18, 2012

Alessandra Kelley said:
So human males do creative stuff to attract human females?

Why do human females do creative stuff?

To attract human females? :tongue

Kriven · Nov 18, 2012

Seraph said:
The way the article paints us, we aren't actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but we humans do not. We move to an area and multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed, and the only way we can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. We're a plague.
/plagiarism

I don't suppose you've seen what happens when you have deer without wolves, have you?

kuwisdelu · Nov 18, 2012

Kriven said:
I don't suppose you've seen what happens when you have deer without wolves, have you?

Really, any time you introduce a foreign species.

It never goes well for the indigenous population.

LOG · Nov 18, 2012

Zoombie said:
That's...not how animals work at all.

This.

Alessandra Kelley said:
So human males do creative stuff to attract human females?

Why do human females do creative stuff?

For the lulz?

Opty · Nov 18, 2012

Alessandra Kelley said:
So human males do creative stuff to attract human females?

Why do human females do creative stuff?

You're inferring that the article is claiming that the sole reason males do "creative stuff" is as part of courtship related to sexual reproduction. The article does not claim that.

kuwisdelu · Nov 18, 2012

Opty said:
You're inferring that the article is claiming that the sole reason males do "creative stuff" is as part of courtship related to sexual reproduction. The article does not claim that.

I only write for the groupies.

Ergodic Mage · Nov 18, 2012

They mathematically explored the possibility...

My wife prefers that I don't explore our sex life mathematically.

Seraph · Nov 18, 2012

Opty said:
Indeed. Just because a line sounds cool in The Matrix doesn't mean it has any scientific validity.

Now you're calling my science into question. Cuts me deep.

Rhoda Nightingale · Nov 19, 2012

Okay, where are all these males allegedly trying to woo me with their creativity? I want one.

kuwisdelu · Nov 19, 2012

Ergodic Mage said:
My wife prefers that I don't explore our sex life mathematically.

It's good to explore new kinks.

quickWit · Nov 19, 2012

Rhoda Nightingale said:
Okay, where are all these males allegedly trying to woo me with their creativity? I want one.

We're collectively playing it cool.
We've all agreed.

*nods all around*

Survival of the Sexy

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