Description

Sexual selection, another selection process related to but often mentioned separately from natural selection, accounts for some of the weirdest and counter-intuitive features animals have, like the peacock’s tail.  The video focuses on human sexual selection and quickly discusses the importance of testosterone and estrogen hormones, bilateral symmetry, hip to waist ratio, pheromones, and the MHC immune system genes.

Discussion Questions

• So, why is sexy sexy?
• The video doesn’t discuss how culture affects beauty.  Where do you think that comes in?
• If you were a chimpanzee or a peacock, what might you find sexy and beautiful?

Keywords: sex, love, attraction, beauty, evolutionary psychology