Likable enough
Anthony Little et al.
Psychoneuroendocrinology, September 2013, Pages 1777–1785
Abstract:
Millions of women use hormonal contraception and it has been suggested that such use may alter mate preferences. To examine the impact of oral contraceptive (pill) use on preferences, we tested for within-subject changes in preferences for masculine faces in women initiating pill use. Between two sessions, initiation of pill use significantly decreased women's preferences for male facial masculinity but did not influence preferences for same-sex faces. To test whether altered preference during pill use influences actual partner choice, we examined facial characteristics in 170 age-matched male partners of women who reported having either been using or not using the pill when the partnership was formed. Both facial measurements and perceptual judgements demonstrated that partners of women who used the pill during mate choice have less masculine faces than partners of women who did not use hormonal contraception at this time. Our data (A) provide the first experimental evidence that initiation of pill use in women causes changes in facial preferences and (B) documents downstream effects of these changes on real-life partner selection. Given that hormonal contraceptive use is widespread, effects of pill use on the processes of partner formation have important implications for relationship stability and may have other biologically relevant consequences.
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The Dark Triad: Beyond a ‘male’ mating strategy
Gregory Louis Carter, Anne Campbell & Steven Muncer
Personality and Individual Differences, January 2014, Pages 159–164
Abstract:
The Dark Triad (DT: sub-clinical narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy) is argued to facilitate a male short-term mating strategy. The trait constellation in women and its potential adaptive benefits has received less attention. We examined the prevalence and correlates of DT in a large community sample (N = 899). Despite finding expected sex differences in Sensation-seeking, Competitiveness, strength of sexual motivation, recreational sex behaviors and neuroticism, we found no sex difference in DT scores. Furthermore, within-sex multiple regressions identified the same predictors of DT score with similar weightings. Moderation analysis confirmed regression equations did not differ by sex. We propose that focus on DT as a male adaptation to short-term mating has been overstated and that men’s greater preference for casual sexual encounters is not explained by DT traits.
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Hierarchical Encoding Makes Individuals in a Group Seem More Attractive
Drew Walker & Edward Vul
Psychological Science, forthcoming
Abstract:
In the research reported here, we found evidence of the cheerleader effect — people seem more attractive in a group than in isolation. We propose that this effect arises via an interplay of three cognitive phenomena: (a) The visual system automatically computes ensemble representations of faces presented in a group, (b) individual members of the group are biased toward this ensemble average, and (c) average faces are attractive. Taken together, these phenomena suggest that individual faces will seem more attractive when presented in a group because they will appear more similar to the average group face, which is more attractive than group members’ individual faces. We tested this hypothesis in five experiments in which subjects rated the attractiveness of faces presented either alone or in a group with the same gender. Our results were consistent with the cheerleader effect.
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The attractive underdog: When disadvantage bolsters attractiveness
Kenneth Michniewicz & Joseph Vandello
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, November 2013, Pages 942-952
Abstract:
While intuition suggests and much research has shown that people are attracted to advantaged individuals, the present study explored the conditions under which people might be attracted to disadvantaged individuals. We hypothesized that perceiving someone as unfairly disadvantaged can motivate attributions of positive personal characteristics and, consequently, judgments of heightened attractiveness. Seventy-eight participants were randomly assigned to read about a job applicant facing a fair or an unfair application process resulting in a competitive advantage or disadvantage. In support of our hypothesis, participants judged unfairly disadvantaged applicants (i.e., underdogs) and fairly advantaged applicants as more physically attractive and suitable as dates compared with fairly disadvantaged and unfairly advantaged applicants. These results highlight the role of situational factors in judgments of one’s attractiveness.
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The Malleability of Mate Selection in Speed-Dating Events
Geertjan Overbeek et al.
Archives of Sexual Behavior, October 2013, Pages 1163-1171
Abstract:
This study examined to what extent individual mate selectivity could be explained by characteristics of the mating market. Specifically, we hypothesized that females’ selectivity would be more malleable, or context-dependent, than males’ mate selectivity (cf. Baumeister, 2000; Gangestad & Simpson, 2000). In a series of 22 speed-dating events in which 546 adults aged 22–42 years participated, we investigated whether the proportion of available potential mates (i.e., male–female ratio), which sex rotated during the speed-date event (i.e., approached the other sex), and mate qualities of same-sex competitors affected individuals’ selectivity, as indexed by the proportion of no’s given during the speed-dating events. Results from multilevel analyses demonstrated that, as hypothesized, event characteristics explained mate selectivity only for females. Specifically, women with a lower facial attractiveness and more deviant body mass index (BMI) values were overall less selective, but this trend was only present in speed-dating events characterized by higher intrasex competition — when females rotated or when other females in the event were more attractive or had healthier BMI. The findings partially support the idea of “erotic plasticity” in females, demonstrating that females’ mate selectivity is more malleable and dependent on context than males’ mate selectivity.
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Sarita Silveira et al.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, forthcoming
Abstract:
Being reminded of the inherently finite nature of human existence has been demonstrated to elicit strivings for sexual reproduction and the formation and maintenance of intimate relationships. Recently, it has been proposed that the perception of potential mating partners is influenced by mortality salience. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the neurocognitive processing of attractive opposite-sex faces after priming with death-related words for heterosexual men and women. Significant modulations of behavioral and neural responses were found when participants were requested to decide whether they would like to meet the presented person. Men were more in favor of meeting attractive women after being primed with death-related words compared to a no-prime condition. Increased neural activation could be found under mortality salience in the left anterior insula and the adjacent lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) for both men and women. As previously suggested, we believe that the lPFC activation reflects an approach-motivated defense mechanism to overcome concerns that are induced by being reminded of death and dying. Our results provide insight on a neurocognitive level that approach motivation in general, and mating motivation in particular is modulated by mortality salience.
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Online dating preferences of Asian Americans
Glenn Tsunokai, Allison McGrath & Jillian Kavanagh
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, forthcoming
Abstract:
This study investigates the inter- and intraracial dating preferences of heterosexual Asian males and females as well as gay Asian males. Using data collected from 1270 Internet dating profiles, logistic regression is employed to examine the odds of one’s willingness to date someone who is Asian, White, Black, Hispanic, and some other race. The findings suggest that heterosexual females and gay males prefer to date Whites over nonwhites. Moreover, respondents from both sexual orientations were less likely to express a preference to date another Asian compared to their heterosexual male counterparts. Our results also reveal that educational attainment influences the willingness among Asians to date a fellow Asian. Finally, the analyses indicate significant differences in dating preferences based on the region of residence and age. The current results are discussed in relation to both the historical and present sociocultural racial climate, focusing on how media depictions and identity formation may play a part in shaping racial dating preferences for Asians.
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Men’s Oppressive Beliefs Predict Their Breast Size Preferences in Women
Viren Swami & Martin Tovée
Archives of Sexual Behavior, October 2013, Pages 1199-1207
Abstract:
Previous studies of men’s breast size preferences have yielded equivocal findings, with studies variously indicating a preference for small, medium, or large breasts. Here, we examined the impact of men’s oppressive beliefs in shaping their female breast size ideals. British White men from the community in London, England (N = 361) viewed figures of women that rotated in 360° and varied in breast size along five levels. They then rated the figure that they found most physically attractive and also completed measures assessing their sexist attitudes and tendency to objectify women. Results showed that medium breasts were rated most frequent as attractive (32.7 %), followed by large (24.4 %) and very large (19.1 %) breasts. Further analyses showed that men’s preferences for larger female breasts were significantly associated with a greater tendency to be benevolently sexist, to objectify women, and to be hostile towards women. These results were discussed in relation to feminist theories, which postulate that beauty ideals and practices in contemporary societies serve to maintain the domination of one sex over the other.
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Settling for Less Out of Fear of Being Single
Stephanie Spielmann et al.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, forthcoming
Abstract:
The present research demonstrates that fear of being single predicts settling for less in romantic relationships, even accounting for constructs typically examined in relationship research such as anxious attachment. Study 1 explored the content of people’s thoughts about being single. Studies 2A and 2B involved the development and validation of the Fear of Being Single Scale. Study 2C provided preliminary support for the hypothesis that fear of being single predicts settling for less in ongoing relationships, as evidenced by greater dependence in unsatisfying relationships. Study 3 replicated this effect in a longitudinal study demonstrating that fear of being single predicts lower likelihood of initiating the dissolution of a less satisfying relationship. Studies 4A and 4B explored the predictive ability of fear of being single for self-reported dating standards. Across both samples, fear of being single was unrelated to self-reported standards for a mate, with the exception of consistently higher standards for parenting. Studies 5 and 6 explored romantic interest in targets that were manipulated to vary in responsiveness and physical attractiveness. These studies found that fear of being single consistently predicted romantic interest in less responsive and less attractive dating targets. Study 7 explored fear of being single during a speed-dating event. We found that fear of being single predicted being less selective in expressing romantic interest but did not predict other daters’ romantic interest. Taken together, the present research suggests that fear of being single is a meaningful predictor of settling for less in relationships.
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Caroline Fitz & Alyssa Zucker
Psychology of Women Quarterly, forthcoming
Abstract:
Perceived sexism has been linked to poorer sexual health among women. However, research has yet to examine whether protective factors, specifically liberal feminist beliefs (i.e., support for women’s empowerment and equity), moderate the relation between perceived sexism and precursors to risky sexual behavior. The present studies tested this possibility. In Study 1, 161 female undergraduates reported their liberal feminist beliefs, perceived sexism, and sexual self-efficacy. For women with weaker feminist beliefs, perceived sexism was related to lower sexual self-efficacy. For women with stronger feminist beliefs, perceived sexism was uncorrelated with sexual self-efficacy. In Study 2, 85 women with weaker or stronger liberal feminist beliefs were exposed to either hostile or benevolent sexism and subsequently reported their expectations to initiate condom use during sex. Participants with strong feminist beliefs reported greater anticipated condom use than those with weak feminist beliefs, but only in the hostile sexism condition; in the benevolent sexism condition, women with strong feminist beliefs reported condom use intentions that were similar to those reported by women with weak feminist beliefs. Results suggest women’s attitudes and social environment work together to shape sexual well-being and that liberal feminist beliefs may be a powerful tool women can employ to combat hostile, but not benevolent, sexism.
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Slimmer Women’s Waist is Associated with Better Erectile Function in Men Independent of Age
Stuart Brody & Petr Weiss
Archives of Sexual Behavior, October 2013, Pages 1191-1198
Abstract:
Previous research has indicated that men generally rate slimmer women as more sexually attractive, consistent with the increased morbidity risks associated with even mild abdominal adiposity. To assess the association of women’s waist size with a more tangible measure of perceived sexual attractiveness (as well as reward value for both sexes), we examined the association of women’s age and waist circumference with an index of men’s erectile function (IIEF-5 scores), frequency of penile-vaginal intercourse (PVI), and sexual satisfaction in a representative sample of Czechs (699 men and 715 women) aged 35–65 years. Multivariate analyses indicated that better erectile function scores were independently associated with younger age of self and partner and women’s slimmer waist. PVI frequency was independently associated with women’s younger age and women’s slimmer waist. Sexual satisfaction was independently associated with men’s younger age and slimmer waist for both sexes. Better erectile function, greater PVI frequency, and greater sexual satisfaction were associated with women’s slimmer waist, independently of both sexes’ ages. Possible reasons for the waist effects were discussed, including women’s abdominal body fat decreasing their own desire through neurohormonal mechanisms and decreasing their partner’s desire through evolutionarily-related decreased sexual attractiveness.
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Delphine De Smet, Linda Van Speybroeck & Jan Verplaetse
Evolution and Human Behavior, forthcoming
Abstract:
Research on human inbreeding avoidance has uncovered at least two central cues to the detection of siblings: witnessing an infant being taken care of by one’s mother (i.e. maternal perinatal association) and growing up in close proximity to a child (the so-called Westermarck effect). Both cues have been supported by fieldwork in populations under specific cultural conditions, and by survey research mainly in student populations. Both types of research have relied often on self-reporting. Unfortunately, this method is frequently colored by ceiling effects and notions of social desirability. In order to circumvent this problem, we explored a complementary method for investigating incest aversion that involved measuring psychophysiological responses during an imagery task. As such, we analyzed data on 63 heterosexual female students who viewed pictures of sexual and non-sexual activities while imagining performing these activities with either their partner or their brother. In female subjects with only (one or more) older brothers – a proxy for lacking maternal perinatal association with an opposite-sex sibling – the duration of coresidence with brother(s) predicted activity in the mm. levator labii superioris and alaeque nasi, facial muscles that are highly active when a subject expresses facial disgust. The strength of these responses was also predicted by the frequency of having bathed and shared a bedroom with a brother in early childhood; two activities that may serve as additional cues for relatedness as it can be expected that they are typically performed with genetically related children. As a result, the psychophysiological approach not only complements the well-established use of self-reports in recent research on incest aversion, but also has the potential to fine-tune well-established cues for sibling detection, or to uncover additional ones.
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Sexual Regret: Evidence for Evolved Sex Differences
Andrew Galperin et al.
Archives of Sexual Behavior, October 2013, Pages 1145-1161
Abstract:
Regret and anticipated regret enhance decision quality by helping people avoid making and repeating mistakes. Some of people’s most intense regrets concern sexual decisions. We hypothesized evolved sex differences in women’s and men’s experiences of sexual regret. Because of women’s higher obligatory costs of reproduction throughout evolutionary history, we hypothesized that sexual actions, particularly those involving casual sex, would be regretted more intensely by women than by men. In contrast, because missed sexual opportunities historically carried higher reproductive fitness costs for men than for women, we hypothesized that poorly chosen sexual inactions would be regretted more by men than by women. Across three studies (Ns = 200, 395, and 24,230), we tested these hypotheses using free responses, written scenarios, detailed checklists, and Internet sampling to achieve participant diversity, including diversity in sexual orientation. Across all data sources, results supported predicted psychological sex differences and these differences were localized in casual sex contexts. These findings are consistent with the notion that the psychology of sexual regret was shaped by recurrent sex differences in selection pressures operating over deep time.