Reading List

The foundation of the course is reading and discussing papers
All readings are available for free at McMaster's libraries and will not be distributed
Below are full citations for each paper to read.
You are expected to find each paper at McMaster’s libraries, read it, and be prepared to discuss it in class.
You will submit a 1-page report comparing and contrasting or summarizing the two papers each week.

Reading List

Readings and critiques of readings must be completed prior to class.

Week 2: Evolution of mate preferences & Fluctuating Asymmetry

Geary DC, Vigil J, Byrd-Craven J (2004) Evolution of human mate choice. Journal of Sex Research 41 (1): 27-42 FEB 2004.

Little AC, Jones BC, Waitt C, Tiddeman BP, Feinberg DR, Perrett DI, Apicella CL, & Marlowe FW. Symmetry Is Related to Sexual Dimorphism in Faces: Data Across Culture and Species. PLoS one 3(5): e2106. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002106.

Jones BC, Little AC, Feinberg DR, Penton-Voak IS, Tiddeman BP, Perrett DI (2004) The relationship between shape symmetry and perceived skin condition in male facial attractiveness. Evolution and Human Behavior 25 (1): 24-30.

Week 3: Sexual Dimorphism in Faces

Perrett DI, Lee KJ, Penton-Voak I, et al. (1998) Effects of sexual dimorphism on facial attractiveness. Nature, 394 (6696): 884-887.

Waitt C, Little AC, Wolfensohn S, et al. (2003) Evidence from rhesus macaques suggests that male coloration plays a role in female primate mate choice. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES. S144-S146.

Week 4: Hormone-mediated preferences

Jones BC, Little AC, Boothroyd L, et al. (2005) Commitment to relationships and preferences for femininity and apparent health in faces are strongest on days of the menstrual cycle when progesterone level is high. HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR 48 (3): 283-290.

Clark MM, Desousa D, Vonk J, Galef BG (1997) Parenting and potency: alternative routes to reproductive success in male Mongolian gerbils. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 54(3): 635-642

Week 5: Condition dependent preferences
Bakker TCM, Kunzler R, Mazzi D (1999) Sexual selection - Condition-related mate choice in sticklebacks. NATURE 401 (6750): 234-234.

Penton-Voak IS, Little AC, Jones BC, et al. (2003) Female condition influences preferences for sexual dimorphism in faces of male humans (Homo sapiens) JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PSYCHOLOGY 117 (3): 264-271.

Week 6: Learning mate preferences
Dukas R (2006) Learning affects mate choice in female fruit flies. BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY 16 (4): 800-804 JUL-AUG 2005

Little AC, Mannion H
Viewing attractive or unattractive same-sex individuals changes self-rated attractiveness and face preferences in women. ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR 72: 981-987 Part 5 NOV 2006

Week 7: Social transmission of mate preferences

Galef BG & White DJ (1998) Mate-choice copying in Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica. Animal Behaviour 55(3) 545-552.

Jones BC, DeBruine LM, Little AC, et al. (2007)Social transmission of face preferences among humans
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 274 (1611): 899-903.