Handout 1-B

Levels of Analysis
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Description of Observed Behavior:

First, we must determine the age of the males. This will determine how they are grouped and to what level of influence opinions and amount of outward competition of their peers will have on the response.

Since the males are “hanging out” in a group, they will exhibit behaviors in order to try and obtain the attention of the girl over others in the group. Depending on the age of the group, these behaviors may be more or less eccentric. These behaviors could make a few of the males in the group more shy and may make some of the males more aggressive toward each other and the female again depending upon the age and experience level of the group toward the female. We must also consider that not all of the males will be attracted to the female based on sexual orientation of the males in the group. The homosexual male may still “pretend” attraction depending on the group and how “open minded” the other males of the group are to differences in sexual orientation.

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Perspective Description of Cause of Behavior
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1. Biological

Genetic predispositions responding to the environment-We must first and foremost consider the genetic sexual orientation of the males in the sample group. This will have an inherent effect as to how aggressive the males will be toward each other and the level of competitiveness needed to obtain the females attention.

Brain mechanism-Male brains will process a fly or flight response based on their level of attractions of the female. The homosexual male will definitely shy or “fly” away from the need to obtain the attention of the female. However, the heterosexual males in the group will have the “fight” reaction to make themselves seen by the female and to be attractive to her in response.

Hormonal influence- The heterosexual male hormones of attraction will rise when the female enters the room. The homosexual male will feel no hormonal increase toward the female. These changes or non-changes will help influence the fly or fight reactions stated above.

Natural selection of adaptive traits-The heterosexual males in the group will experience an inner drive to be attracted to females and how they react to the female will be reflected upon these drives. The homosexual males will feel no inner drive and require no need to seek out the attention of the entered female.

Again, all these observations can and will change depending on the age and experiences of the males in the group which was undetermined in the outline of the subject sample.

2. Psychological

Learned fears and other learn expectations-The homosexual males may respond to the female based on learned fears and their ability to be open in the male grouping. The heterosexual males will rely on past experiences with females. This past experience will have an effect on the different male’s response and interaction of the female. Based on the experiences and fear the males may be shy or aggressive in their ability to approach and respond to the female. Again, age will have a definite effect on the responses of the group.

Emotional Response-Will be determined by the age and experiences each male has with other females or lack thereof. Again, sexual orientation and the ability of the homosexual male to be honest in the grouping will have different emotional responses to the female.

Cognitive