VI. Written Response (Short Essay) Questions:
1. Background: In class, we discussed the fact that Sidanius’ subordinate male target hypothesis of arbitrary set discrimination is consistent with the logic of parental investment theory.
Question:
How do the assumptions of parental investment theory serve as a basis for the subordinate male target hypothesis? Explain (10 pts.).
Alternative wording for the question if the above is not clear: How does parental investment theory help to explain the subordinate male target hypothesis.
In thinking about this question, it will be helpful to review pages 52 to 55 in the article (the section on Evolutionary Psychology Perspectives) through the beginning of the discussion of the Subordinate Male Target Hypothesis (SMTH). Hopefully, you will see the connection between their discussion of parental investment theory (Trivers, 1972) and the SMTH. There, they explain how SMTH derives from the mechanisms of parental investment theory.
2. Background: Investment in less viable offspring may be context dependent. That is, among relatively affluent parents, illness may predict increased investment whereas, among parents with very few resources, this may predict decreased parental investment.
Question:
Discuss how the statement above relates to the article by Nancy Scheper-Hughes on “Culture, Scarcity, and Maternal Thinking: Maternal Detachment and Infant Survival in a Brazilian Shantytown.” (10 pts.).
