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Article Critique The main idea of Neil M. Malamuth, the author of the article Sexually Explicit Media, Gender Differences, and Evolutionary Theory is that the research data on gender differences in response to sexually explicit media is explained by theoretical approach from evolutionary psychology. According to him, how people respond to current environments is shaped by mental mechanisms that evolved in response to problems faced by our ancestors (Malamuth 8). Neil M. Malamuth dwells on the influence of media and makes conclusion that gender differences can be explained by evolutionary approach.
Although many inherited psychological models of behavior and mechanisms are flexible and can change due to cultural or environmental stimuli, the evolution-based mechanisms, genes, or related concepts (Malamuth 8) are often underestimated. Evolutionary approach tends to apply the knowledge of evolutionary processes in order to understand the human behavior, thoughts, and emotions. All these mechanisms are the integral part of the process, and, therefore, they cannot be understood solely without evolutionary psychology, as it underlines that it is particularly important to historically contextualize the development. The inherited differences and sources of variability interact, for example, may affect how people select their environments (Malamuth 13). Further, according to evolutionary framework, females and males are expected to have the same psychological mechanisms in those domains where natural selection has favored the same solutions to adaptive problems for all humans regardless of their gender (Malamuth 13). However, the psychological mechanisms responsible for male sexuality differ from females due to different reproductive consequences of sexual behavior.
As a result, evolutionary model suggests that males and females have differences in their underlying algorithms to short-term dating. The author supposes that sexually explicit media consumed by males largely reflects the elements of short-term dating strategy, whereas media consumed by females mainly reflect the relatively long-term orientation of their mating strategy (Malamuth 15). The evolutionary approach also suggests that the |evolutionary processes designed men to be more visually attracted to and aroused by sexual stimuli (Malamuth 17), whereas the females are more likely to be sensitive to such elements as context. According to laboratory studies and surveys focusing on different media (magazines, internet, movies, etc), in comparison to women, men are more likely to seek out, to consume more regularly, [] and to react with less negative affect to portrayals featuring nudity of the opposite sex or sexual acts devoid of relationships context, or both (Malamuth 21).
Women are more likely to choose loving erotic film as compared to a more sexual hard-core film. Mosher and Milan used in their research the films with visual sexual stimuli specially developed to attract women, however, they had to select different content (mirroring the typical formulas) rather than simply reversing the content of the films to feature the opposite sex (Malamuth 21) and had to portray emotional sexual experiences and feelings. In contrast to the theories, described by Malamuth, consistent with the evolutionary model, there are several studies that at the first glance seem to be different. According to them, when men and women are exposed in the laboratory to casual sex themes, women are as sexually aroused as men (Malamuth 22). However, the majority of studies contradict them, as these overwhelming discoveries consist of only few arousal studies, despite the existence of powerful data showing gender differences in various responses (Malamuth 23).
Finally, Malamuth claims that the gender differences described here cannot be explained by cultural socialization. Although cultural factors are extremely important in order to explain gender differences, cultural socialization model should need to consider the reasons that certain roles, norms, and laws emerge or are enacted (Malamuth 24). In such a way, cultural socialization cannot be treated as the end point as it moves the level of analysis from the individual to that of the group (Malamuth 24). Besides, it doesnt explain why people have created definite cultures with different social environments for males and females. The evolutionary model suits more. Overall, the theoretical and methodological approach doesnt seem to have any weaknesses as it is explained quite clearly.
The study is sufficiently thorough and comprehensive. The findings are described and presented fully and clearly and cannot be interpreted in another way. The author accounted for everything in the article and didnt ignore something that might be important. The logic of many of his arguments is clear and easy to understand.
The article Sexually Explicit Media, Gender Differences, and Evolutionary Theory is able to serve as a spring-board or a model for further examination of the issue. Bibliography: Neil M. Malamuth. Sexually Explicit Media, Gender Differences, and Evolutionary Theory.
Journal of Communication 1996 vol. 46 issue 3: 8 - 24
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