A comprehensive theory of human mating must explain between-sex and within-sex differences in mating strategies

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
April L. Bleske ◽  
David M. Buss
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Good Genes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Alternative Strategies ◽  
Comprehensive Theory ◽  
Strategic Pluralism ◽  
Human Mating

Gangestad & Simpson make a major contribution by highlighting the importance of mate choice for good genes, the costs of alternative strategies, and tradeoffs inherent in human mating. By downplaying sex differences and ignoring the nongenetic adaptive benefits of short term mating, however, they undermine their goal of “strategic pluralism” by presenting a theory devoid of many documented complexities of human mating.

The evolution of human mating: Trade-offs and strategic pluralism

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. Gangestad ◽  
Jeffry A. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Strategic Pluralism ◽  
Human Mating ◽  
Time And Energy ◽  
Genetic Fitness

During human evolutionary history, there were “trade-offs” between expending time and energy on child-rearing and mating, so both men and women evolved conditional mating strategies guided by cues signaling the circumstances. Many short-term matings might be successful for some men; others might try to find and keep a single mate, investing their effort in rearing her offspring. Recent evidence suggests that men with features signaling genetic benefits to offspring should be preferred by women as short-term mates, but there are trade-offs between a mate's genetic fitness and his willingness to help in child-rearing. It is these circumstances and the cues that signal them that underlie the variation in short- and long-term mating strategies between and within the sexes.

Scientific truth and perceived truth about sexual human nature: Implications for therapists

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 595-596
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Buckhalt ◽  
Erica J. Gannon
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Social Role ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Social Role Theory ◽  
Naive Theories ◽  
Strategic Pluralism ◽  
Scientific Truth ◽  
Sexual Strategies Theory

Therapists and their patients must deal with the negative sequelae of short term mating strategies. Implications for therapy of Gangestad & Simpson's strategic pluralism theory are compared with those of Buss's sexual strategies theory and Eagly's social role theory. Naive theories held by therapists and patients, as well as prevailing societal views, are posited as influential in determining the course and outcome of therapy.

Variation in optimal human mating strategies: Effects of individual differences in competence and self-regulatory mechanisms

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Alley
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Mating Strategy ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Behavioral Competence ◽  
Regulatory Processes ◽  
Strategic Pluralism ◽  
Human Mating ◽  
The Impact

Several suggestions are made for revision of Strategic Pluralism Theory (SPT). One revision requires recognition of the impact of individual differences in cognitive and behavioral competence on optimal mating strategy. In addition, SPT may need to incorporate certain self-regulatory processes such as the impact of widespread valuation of mates with one trait on their availability.

Evolution of mating strategies: Evidence from the fossil and archaeological records

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-616
Author(s):  
Steven Mithen
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Human Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Good Genes ◽  
Archaeological Record ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Persuasive Argument ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Strategic Pluralism

Gangestad & Simpson provide a persuasive argument that both men and women have evolved conditional mating strategies. Their references to “ancestral” males and females are rather vague, which is unfortunate, as they seek to justify their arguments by invoking human evolutionary history. When one actually examines the evidence for human evolution further, more support for their arguments can be found, as predominant types of mating strategies are likely to have shifted in light of environmental and anatomical developments. We can also see in the archaeological record evidence for a further dimension of strategic pluralism – the use of material culture to advertise good genes in some species of ancestral males.

Can Mate Choice Strategies Explain Sex Differences?

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Stieger ◽  
Tina Eichinger ◽  
Britta Honeder
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Online Harassment ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Online Deception ◽  
Gender Switching

Online deception is a phenomenon on the Internet, facilitated by restrictions on communication channels. As communication on the Internet is largely exchanged in textual form, deception about personal data such as sex, age, and appearance can be difficult to detect. Research on online deception has been focused thus far on what deceivers lie about and what motivates them to do so. Little is known about how persons feel when they are deceived in an online environment and about whether sex differences exist in the intensity of those feelings. Furthermore, research on online deception largely lacks a theoretical basis. In the current studies, differences between the sexes with respect to their reaction to online deception about sex, age, and appearance were analyzed in a framework of sex-specific mating strategies predicted by evolutionary theory. The results of a structured online interview showed that sex-specific differences in reaction to online gender switching and appearance deception can be explained by mating strategies. Gender switching was found to be more disturbing when committed by a chat partner of the same sex than when committed by a chat partner of the opposite sex. Appearance deception was found to be more disturbing when committed by chat partners of the opposite sex. The data on age deception were not in line with the theory of mate-choice strategies. Even a second online questionnaire study could not entirely clarify the issue but did reveal interfering factors (such as online harassment, legal issues, life expectancy) that probably influence the effect driven by evolution.

It's Funny Because It's True (Because It Evokes Our Evolved Psychology)

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry X. Kuhle
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Quarter Century ◽  
The Past ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Primary Literature ◽  
Human Mating ◽  
Universal Nature ◽  
Unique Ability

Evolutionary psychology (EP) and comedian Chris Rock have both grown increasingly prominent over the past quarter-century. EP has blossomed because of its unique ability to explore humans' universal nature. Rock's stand-up routines have vaulted him into the pantheon of comedic talents because, intentionally or not, his comedy is based on a sophisticated appreciation and invocation of humans' evolved psychology. Conventional wisdom and recent EP research suggest that “something is funny because it's true.” This perspective on humor rings especially true in Rock's routines. Much of Rock's riffs on sex and marriage ring true and hence funny with his audiences because he deftly evokes their awareness of evolved sex differences in human mating strategies. Popular culture such as Rock's comedy can provide a window into human nature. I illustrate the intersection of EP and popular culture by unpacking the evolutionary theory and empirical evidence underlying 22 verbatim bits on human mating from Rock's five HBO comedy specials. Incorporating Rock's outrageously funny, theoretically sound, and empirically supported perspectives on sex and marriage into discussions of the primary literature is a sure-fire way to grab young people's attention and make memorable the myriad ways that sex differences stem from asymmetrical obligatory parental investment.

Mating and marriage, husbands and lovers

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 590-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Beckerman
Keyword(s):  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Human Mating

Human mating strategies are contingent on individual prospects. Gangestad & Simpson provide a useful framework to explore these differing prospects, but do not take sufficient account of what is known ethnographically about mating decisions. Women often do not select their own long term mates. Men often have two or more long term mates, and can invest in the offspring of short term matings also.

scholarly journals Inferring Preferred Mating Strategies Through Body Fat and Sex-Typical Body Features

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitch Brown ◽  
Kaitlyn Boykin ◽  
Donald F. Sacco
Keyword(s):  
Body Fat ◽  
Parental Investment ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Good Genes ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
Physical Features

Identifying reproductive opportunities and intrasexual rivals has necessitated the evolution of sensitivity to features diagnostic of mate value. In determining the presence of good genes through physical features, individuals may additionally infer targets’ short- and long-term mating motives. This study tested how individuals perceive men and women’s mating intentions through physical features conducive to reproductive goals. Participants evaluated preferred mating strategies of male and female targets varying in size of sex-typical features (i.e., muscles or breasts) and adiposity. Greater adiposity connoted long-term mating interest. Large muscles and breasts connoted short-term mating interests. We frame results from an affordance management framework with respect to inferences regarding parental investment and intrasexual competition.

scholarly journals Oxytocin amplifies sex differences in human mate choice

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Xu ◽  
Benjamin Becker ◽  
Ruixue Luo ◽  
Xiaoxiao Zheng ◽  
Weihua Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Blind Study ◽  
Double Blind Study ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Oxytocin Release ◽  
History Of

AbstractInfidelity is the major cause of breakups and individuals with a history of infidelity are more likely to repeat it, but may also present a greater opportunity for short-term sexual relationships. Here in a pre-registered, double-blind study involving 160 subjects we report that while both sexes valued faithful individuals most for long-term relationships, both single men and those in a relationship were more interested in having short-term relationships with previously unfaithful individuals than women. Oxytocin administration resulted in men rating the faces of unfaithful women as more attractive but in women rating those of unfaithful men as less attractive and also finding them less memorable. Oxytocin also increased men’s interest in having short-term relationships with previously unfaithful women whereas it increased women’s interest in having long-term relationships with faithful men. Thus, oxytocin release during courtship may first act to amplify sex-dependent priorities in attraction and mate choice before subsequently promoting romantic bonds.

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