L’evoluzione dei segnali sessuali nell’uomo: tattiche di comunicazione verbale e non verbale durante il corteggiamento

Abstract

The Evolution of Sexual Signals in Humans: Direct Verbal and Nonverbal Tactics of Communication During Courtship

In human evolutionary history, men and women have dealt with different adaptive aspects in the sexual domain. This study offers an account of these adaptive problems and presents a view of human sexual psychology as a rich repertoire of mechanisms that have evolved as adaptive solutions. The paper also includes an account of the sex differences found in both genders’ preferences for certain characteristics of their partner and in the tactics implemented in order to attract the opposite sex. It appears that women use indirect nonverbal tactics more than men do, while the latter use more direct verbal tactics compared to women. In self-presentations, men and women use characteristics which, according to the evolutionary hypothesis, are more appreciated by the opposite gender. Making individuals aware of the identification processes that they implement with regard to the society they live in, and particularly as regards their sex role, could increase their awareness of the values, beliefs and behavioural models adopted.