Writing Assignment for Module 2: Adultery
1. All around the world, the attitudes of men and women have been compared.
a. In what ways are men and women different? In what ways are they similar?
b. Explain how natural selection could have produced the differences between men and women.
c. Explain how culture and experience can enhance or reduce differences between men and
women.
d. Describe experimental evidence supporting the hypothesis that some differences between men
and woman may reflect people’s desires to conform to society’s expectations.
2. Males and females share an interest in their children but also have interests of their own
regarding additional mates.
a. What factor determines whether additional mates will increase a male’s reproductive success?
b. What factor determines whether additional mates will increase a female’s reproductive
success?
3. Adulterous relationships involve costs and benefits to all parties.
a. Contrast the potential benefits and costs for male and female adulterers.
b. In what situation(s) would a man or woman benefit from having sex with someone who is
married?
c. In what situation(s) would the offspring of an adulterer benefit or suffer from adultery?
