Evolutionary Needs
Explanations
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One of the basic and perhaps most degrading tenets of Darwinian evolution,
which was expounded by Richard Dawkins in 'The Selfish Gene', is that we are
little more than 'gene machines'. Seen from a fundamentalist evolutionary sense,
our sole purpose in life is to propagating our genes, and our needs are honed to
relentlessly drive us in this direction.
Staying alive
The first step towards procreation is in staying healthy and alive. This
means finding food and shelter and, if necessary, beating other people in order
to get it.
Finding a mate
Once we are reasonably secure, the next step towards procreating our genes is
finding a mate (and doing the deed, of course).
For this, we again may need to beat off other suitors, or at least impress
our potential partners sufficiently that they choose to mate with us rather than
our genetic competitors.
The fact that the male is larger than the female is a common sign that humans
are naturally a male-dominated society in which dominant males will have more
than one mate. The larger male is not only better able
to fight off other males, but they are also able to keep women in their place.
The force of genetics sadly does not know about Political Correctness.
What men want
Men and women look for different things in their partners. Men look for women
who seem likely to be able to bear plenty of strong children. They thus look for
women who:
- are young and healthy and have many childbearing years ahead of them.
- have large breasts for feeding their children.
- have wide hips so they will not have delivery problems.
Men are also easily fooled by symbolism such as red lipstick that reminds
them of a full vagina and make-up that fills in the cracks and makes the woman
look younger than she is.
Men are not monogamous by nature, and a man will happily have children with
many women, as this spreads his seed around and increases the chances of
successful propagation of his genes.
What women want
Women are not like men. A major difference is that they are generally left to
bring up the children, giving them ten to twenty years of work after their
debilitating nine months of pregnancy. They thus look for men who:
- are strong and powerful and can feed and protect them and their children.
- are kind and thoughtful and will stay with them.
Women thus will settle for older men who have gained affluence and position
in society and who may be less likely to stray. They fight other women not with
strength, but with cunning and carefully-placed words (which they also use to
great effect with men).
Women are not predisposed toward sleeping around, as the result cannot be hidden
from their mates and having too many children may kill them or otherwise reduce
the chances of their children surviving.
Nurturing our young
It is no good having children if we then let them die before they can pass
their genes on to their children. We thus are motivated to look after our
children at least until they can fly the nest. This can be a difficult
transition, but nature again has provided the answer in adolescence, where our
teenagers push back so hard and often that we are relieved to see them set out
on their own!
The next generation
Being a grandparent is a very satisfying thing, as you now have proof that
your genes have been passed on and that the responsibility for their propagation
can now be handed back to your children whenever you get a bit tired.
So what?
Sex sells. This is because it appeals to this most basic of needs. Use sexy
women to sell to men and powerful men to sell to women. Create tension by
showing the opposite sex being won away by another person. Show perfect bodies
and promise 'you, too, can have a body like this'.
Children sell too. Awaken nurturing instincts by showing their innocence and
vulnerability.
