DEWSBURY, D. A.; Univ. of Florida: The Darwin-Bateman Paradigm in Historical Context

 I introduce the term �Darwin-Bateman Paradigm� to include several ideas stemming from the writings of Charles Darwin and A. J. Bateman including the notions that (a) male reproductive success is more variable than that of females, (b) males gain more in reproductive success from repeated matings than do females, and (c) males are generally eager to mate and relatively indiscriminate whereas females are more discriminating and less eager. I trace this paradigm from Darwin�s The Descent of Man through Bateman�s research. I try to clarify the terminology used in applying Bateman�s results and discuss both their impact and the criticisms the results have engendered. I show that the Darwin-Bateman Paradigm evolved in parallel with related developments in disparate fields and conclude that the paradigm has been of great heuristic value but may have biased investigation.