What body of evolutionary theory has been applied to the study of aesthetics? For example to explain why a peahen finds one peacock’s tail feathers more attractive than another’s?

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The question asks which body of evolutionary theory has been applied to aesthetics, such as explaining why a peahen prefers certain tail feathers. 
Option 1: 'game theory' — While game theory models strategic interactions and can illuminate some social behaviors, it is not the core framework traditionally used to explain aesthetic preferences in mate choice. It’s more about strategies and payoffs in competitive contexts than about trait-based attractiveness per se. 
Option 2: 'life history theory' — Life history theory deals with how organisms allocate resources to growth, reproduction, and survival across their lifespan. It provides insights into trade-offs and timing of reproduction, but it is not the principal framework for explaining aesthetic mate preferences or ornament elaboration. 
Option 3: 'sexual selection' — This is the evolutionary mechanism commonly invoked to explain aesthetic traits that influence mating success, such as the peacock’s tail. It covers two components: female choice (preferences for certain displays) and male-male competition, and it directly ties beauty and display traits to reproductive advantage. Therefore, it aptly explains why one peacock’s tail might be more attractive to a peahen than another’s. 
Option 4: 'natural selection' — While natural selection broadly explains adaptation and survival, sexual selection is a subset that specifically addresses traits influencing mating success and attractiveness. Natural selection alone does not inherently emphasize mate choice and ornamental displays as drivers of trait evolution. 
In summary, among the options, sexual selection best captures the specialization of evolutionary theory applied to aesthetics and mate choice, such as peacock tail attractiveness. The other theories contribute to broader evolutionary understanding but do not directly address aesthetic mate preferences in the same targeted way.

ANTH 1050-090 Fall 2025 Exam 2

What body of evolutionary theory has been applied to the study of aesthetics? For example to explain why a peahen finds one peacock’s tail feathers more attractive than another’s?

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