er differences? What are the strengths and weaknesses of this evolutionary explanation?
According to Roughgarden (2003), evolutionary psychology maintains that sex differences in behavior develop biologically as people adapt to changes in the environment and that the cues that trigger sexual jealousy are weighted differently in men and women. This is explained in more detail by Geary (1998) who states that, for a man, sexual infidelity results in uncertainty in paternity of their children, which often leads to sexual jealousy. This jealous is associated with aggressive behavior which is said to be tied to possessiveness as a means of guarding against paternal uncertainty. At the extreme level, this bio-evolutionary tendency can be associated with rape and violence.
However, as noted by Buller (2005), the evolutionary perspective is not without its advantages and weaknesses. Regarding its weaknesses, Buller points out that the perspective (in terms of explaining jealousy in men and many other facets of human behavior) emphasizes the differences between men and women in their parental investment, and offers little in terms of theory as to their similarities. As to advantages of the perspective, Buller points out that the theory unifies what was
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