Effect of differences in mortality due to male genotype on female sexual preferences - Genotypic equilibrium

[drumbo]

Imagine a stone age level of human development.

Assume that there were two genotypes of male:

1. Men of genotype A whom are more feminine - They tend to focus on clerical tasks and avoid risk - They have low mortality rates
2. Men of genotype B whom are more masculine - They tend to focus on tasks requiring strength, aggression, and risk taking - They have high mortality rates

Note that the prevalence of a genotype in a population can only increase if its reproductive rate exceeds its mortality rate. Therefore if the prevalence of genotype B is to increase in the population then men of genotype B must have higher reproductive success than men of genotype A in order to compensate for the higher mortality rate of men of genotype B.

Now assume that there were four tribes in close proximity to one another:

1. In tribe 1 90% of the men were of genotype A, and 10% were of genotype B - In this tribe women were genetically predispositioned to highly prefer men of genotype A
2. In tribe 2 75% of the men were of genotype A, and 25% were of genotype B - In this tribe women were genetically predispositioned to have no net preference (the higher mortality rate of men of genotype B would cause their prevalence to drop over time)
3. In tribe 3 10% of the men were of genotype A, and 90% were of genotype B - In this tribe women were genetically predispositioned to highly prefer men of genotype B
4. In tribe 4 50% of the men were of genotype A, and 50% were of genotype B - In this tribe women were genetically predispositioned to slightly (to compensate for the higher mortality rate of men of genotype B) prefer men of genotype B

Now in tribes 1 and 2 things are nice and peaceful, the feminized men get along and build a harmonious and well functioning society. However in tribe 3 things are not so peaceful, there is constant infighting and aggression. Tribe 3 starts lashing out and attacking tribes 1, 2, and 4. Unfortunately the men in tribes 1 and 2 are too soft and feminine, and they are unable to defend themselves. However since tribe 4 has a decent amount of men of genotype B they successfully defend themselves and survive.

The conclusion is that tribes of women who were genetically predispositioned to highly prefer men of genotype A or have no net preference at all would tend to overproduce those men and the tribe would subsequently be wiped out, women who were genetically predispositioned to highly prefer men of genotype B would overproduce those men and the infighting would cause the tribe to fail and splinter, and finally tribes of women who were genetically predispositioned to slightly prefer men of genotype B in order to compensate for the higher mortality rate of those men would have the best chances of survival.

Therefore most women must be primarily descended from tribes of type 4, and women must have a slight overall preference for men of genotype B.

[Area54]

You seem to be assuming that:

• there are only two genotypes
• that the genes responsible for one or other are always grouped together
• that none of these genes are related to other traits with survival, or counter survival value
• and that, consequently, you have ignored how genetics actually works in practice

[joigus]

Also, you are confusing genotype with phenotype.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genotype

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenotype

Edited September 12, 2020 by joigus