<p>Lecture, three hours. Human mating desires are deeply rooted in a long evolutionary history in which there were no smart phones, Instagram pages, dating apps—or even any strangers to meet within your local subgroup. There was no reliable contraception and little choice for women about whether to have families or pursue opportunities for social advancement. Theories in evolutionary social science predict a variety of patterns in human mating desires, tying current behavior to the ancient ancestral past. Exploration of how the modern world, with advent of technology, pharmacology, and shifting gender roles, works in conjunction with these ancient mating desires. Topics include social media, hormonal contraceptives, variation in gender and sexual orientation, hook-up culture, pro-female versus pro-male social movements, and shifting gender norms. Letter grading.</p>

Communication

College of Letters and Science

COMM 112 - Mating in the Modern World

Mating in the Modern World

Upon completing the course, students will be able to address the following questions by citing existing evidence and open questions for future inquiry. Students will also work to enhance their skills engaging with primary source materials and critically thinking about controversial topics.

●	What are the major evolutionary theories of the origin of human mating desires? 


●	What hormones underly patterns of human mating? Do hormonal interventions (such as using hormonal contraceptives or testosterone supplements) affect these patterns?

●	Are there major social and demographic shifts in human mating that may be due to mismatches between the modern environment and human ancestral environments? 

●	How do novel technological innovations, such as meeting on phone apps, affect mating psychology and behavior? 

●	Do mating desires affect current political and policy preferences? If so, how?

●	How do natural and sexual selection help us to understand sex differences? 

General Catalog

Mating in the Modern World

COMM 112

4 units