Why eggheads get the girls and birdbrains don't

Nay.<p>Women are attracted to power. Famous scientists, authors, and artists wield power.<p>In addition to this, the attraction to "intelligence" is like gravity...omnipresent, but weak in relation to something like the strong nuclear force (looks).<p>(as with most statements, append the phrase "within reason" to this).

&#62; Alternative theories to the mating mind include that our large brain evolved because it was advantageous for hunting or living in social groups, and cultural creativity was simply a fortuitous byproduct of the struggle to survive.<p>Isn't this part of the same theory? Traits that are good for survival should be more attractive (i.e. being attracted to traits that are good for survival increases your chances of survival which means that such attraction should evolve).

Are there any reasons to believe that we can generalise the behaviour of birds to humans? The article claims that we can, but I don't see why, especially given that "they're not as complex as humans".

This looks like another case of correlation != causation. Physical health (e.g. absence of disease) of the male birds is one possible lurking variable: good health keeps one's brain performing better, and it also makes one more attractive to the other sex.

I think "Revenge of the Nerds" got it best:<p><pre><code> - That was wonderful. - You did things to me you've never done before. (gasps) - You're that nerd! - Yeah. - God, you were wonderful. - Thanks. - Are all nerds as good as you? - Yes. - How come? - Cos all jocks think about is sports. - All we ever think about is sex.</code></pre>

The study showed that males who were able to problem solve in order to remove red objects from their nests, got the most mates.<p>In this case the smart birds got the girls, but it doesn't follow that smart humans have the same sexual selection.