Biological Processes Involved in Sexual Selection - Term Paper Example

? Introduction There have been various theories and ideologies directed towards providing explanations on how sexual selection occurs between humans. Some of these theories have been used to provide explanations on how such selections may occur between animals. One of the famous theories that contributed greatly toward providing such explanations in Charles Darwin; he argues that sexual selection among humans in an imperative process that forms part of social and biological development. Moreover, Charles Darwin provided a description of sexual selection by describing as a process of natural selection whereby certain individuals reproduce with specific people owing to the fact that they are better sexual mates as compared to others. This was an imperative argument that Darwin used to support his theory of evolution and natural selection. In the contemporary society, there have been discussions and various teachings from psychologists as well as sociologists and to some extent medical practitioners on issues ascribed to sexual selection. The idea of sexual selection has been supported by different opinions and ideologies leading to the documentation of some of the teachings. Moreover, the need for such teachings has been propagated by the fact the current generation is highly affected by certain social phenomena that have basically affected their sexual characteristics. One of the documentaries that have been provided to explicit the process of sexual selection is a documentary that was recorded in 2011 by Eisenarsch. The documentary describes various issues ascribed to sexual selection and how this can be affected by different societal factors. It is a 56 minutes documentary that has been fundamental in provision of sexual selection lessons especially in the United States as well as in other parts of the World. Separate Sexual Drives Explicated in the Video The documentary delves into various issues that drive the aspect of sexual selection among humans and other animals. Specifically, it explicates ways by, which romantic love, attachment as well lust play pertinent roles to facilitate sexual selection. The narrator in the documentary begins by providing a brief historical overview of sexual selection. According to the documentary, the human sexuality in an aspect that has been active for over 100,000 years; this is an aspect that began immediately human beings began speaking. One of the drives that control sexual selection is attachment. This is properly explicated in the video. The narrator asserts that attachment in regard to sexual issues is usually facilitated by a response to other people’s sexuality especially when they trigger our imprinted sexual cognitive scripts. Mental sex scripts are an imperative aspect that creates sexual attachment between two people or even animals. According to the documentary, sex scripts are basically certain cognitive data that occur with the human brain, they include: Scenarios, stories as well as cognitive fantasy that are usually printed in someone’s brain at an early stage of mental development. In this regard, sexual selection through a process of attachment, triggered by mental sexual script is quite difficult to control and in many cases a person may be surprised by his/her sexual attraction. In other cases, a person may be overwhelmed by his/her sexual desires owing to the fact that sexual selection through attachment is natural and occurs cognitively. Moreover, the attachment that facilitates sexual selection among humans and other animals is also facilitated by familiarity. The narrator indicates that familiarity has been existence in the animal kingdom for over 7 million years. It has acted as an imperative aspect that facilitates sexual attraction among humans and other animals for instance: If two people stay in a house for two years or more, there is a high possibility that certain sexual feelings will be developed leading to sexual attachment between the two. This is usually facilitated by the fact that the two parties may have learnt and got used to each other creating a sense of attraction between the two. Another imperative aspect that has facilitated the process of sexual selection is the existence of romantic love between human beings. This is mostly evident among humans; it is one of the sexual selection processes that have led to section of most marriage partners in the human world. From the video, it is one of the most recent processes of sexual selection owing to the fact that it began about 800 years. Many people have confused with mate selection and familiarity. It is driven by emotions and feelings of attractiveness basically without considering the any physical phenomena as compared to attachment that in some cases may be driven by feelings of physical attraction. The documentary also points out that sexual selection may be facilitated the feeling s lust. This basically occurs when one is attracted to another person basically due to certain physical features. In this case, there is usually limited emotional feeling; however, this process of sexual selection may not necessarily lead to long lasting relation. Biological Processes Involved in Sexual Selection There are also various biological processes described in the video as crucial factors that facilitate the process of sexual selection. The documentary also points out various biological processes that facilitate sexual attraction between humans and other humans. One of the biological processes pointed out in the production of serotonin in the nervous system. This chemical when released in the nervous system, they facilitate the creation of an effect of infatuation. The functionality of serotonin in regard to infatuation has been described as similar to the functionality of chemicals released to facilitate obsessive-compulsive disorder. Infatuation creates a scenario where one’s mind thinks only of specific person. Such feelings may lead to the selection of more thought of partner as the sexual partner. The nervous system also plays a crucial role in regard to sexual selection, specifically through the biological processes played by the limbic system. The limbic system facilitates social bonding usually propagated by feelings of love. Additionally, this system is mostly affected by the surrounding environments leading to a stronger attraction between people who are mostly close to each other. The process of sexual attraction between men and women is also properly explicated in the documentary. It is evident that the process of sexual selection between men and women is different. Men are mostly attracted to visual stimuli, majorly certain specific physical features in the opposite sex. In this regard, visual stimuli play an important role in facilitating sexual selection among men. On the contrary, women apply their emotional feelings to select their sexual partners. Visual stimuli paly limited role in selecting sexual partners among women. These factors are substantial evidence that the process of sexual selection among women and men is totally different. The biological process of sexual attraction among men and men is anticipated to have effects in the sexual attractiveness among men and women. Certain hormones released at early stage of sexual selection usually reduce with time leading to a reduction of sexual attractiveness between sexual partners. Unconscious Calculation of Sexual Attraction between Humans The documentary also points out various issues ascribed to cognitive calculation of sexual attraction between men and women. Certain cognitive processes i.e. creativity, intelligence as well as kindness has been applied to determine the level of sexual attractiveness among human beings. Some people usually exhibit feelings of kindness towards second parties of whom they feel sexually attracted to. On the other hand, some people may also be attracted to their sexual partners merely due to the high level of intelligence. In some cases, people may exhibit shyness towards other parties, coupled with feelings of fear in the case that they are sexually attracted towards them. Instances of fear may also indicate that a person is less attracted to other parties especially if they feel the second party has less attractive personal traits. Personal Insights gained from the Documentary An analysis of the documentary indicates that there are various issues ascribed to sexual selection and that it is not a simple natural process. There are different biological processes involved in sexual selection among humans and animals. These processes vary from one person to another. Majority of most biological sexual selection processes are triggered by certain chemicals that may occur within the nervous system or even the endocrine system. The concepts presented in the documentary are facts that have been proved by biologists as well as sociologists. However, the most imperative question that arises from these concepts is: Could there be sexual selection processes that are cannot be influenced or affected by social, biological or even natural processes i.e. geographical processes? Work Cited Cycles of Sexual Selection. By By Eisenarsch, Mr. Perf. By Eisenarsch. By Eisenarsch, 2011. Documentary. Read More