The effects of control of resources on magnitudes of sex differences in human mate preferences

Fhionna Moore, Clare Cassidy, David I. Perrett

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    14 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    We tested the hypothesis that magnitudes of sex differences in human mate preferences would be inversely related to control of resources. Specifically, we predicted that the ideal partner age, maximum and minimum partner ages tolerated and preferences for "physical attractiveness" over "good financial prospects" of female participants would approach parity with that of men with increasing control of resources. In a sample of 3770 participants recruited via an online survey, the magnitudes of sex differences in age preferences increased with resource control whereas the sex difference in preferences for "physical attractiveness" over "good financial prospects" disappeared when resource control was high. Results are inconsistent, and are discussed in the context of adaptive tradeoff and biosocial models of sex differences in human mate preferences.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)720-735
    Number of pages16
    JournalJournal of Evolutionary Psychology
    Volume8
    Issue number4
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

    Keywords

    • Sex differences
    • mate preferences
    • control of resources
    • status
    • MALE FACIAL ATTRACTIVENESS
    • PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS
    • GENDER DIFFERENCES
    • MENSTRUAL-CYCLE
    • SELECTION PREFERENCES
    • FEMALE PREFERENCES
    • 37 CULTURES
    • STRATEGIES
    • BEHAVIOR
    • AGE

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