The Evolution of Same-Sex Attraction in Women

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Menelaos Apostolou
Keyword(s):  
Strong Support ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
High Tolerance ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sex Attraction ◽  
Opposite Sex

Abstract. A considerable proportion of the population experiences varying degrees of same-sex attraction. It has been proposed that men exhibit high tolerance to their partner’s same-sex infidelity, which allows such predispositions to exist in a relative high frequency in the population. On this basis, the hypothesis was tested that heterosexual men and women would differ in their tolerance level, with men exhibiting higher tolerance to same-sex infidelity than women. Evidence from an online sample of 590 heterosexual Greek-speaking participants provided strong support for this hypothesis. In particular, the vast majority of women exhibited low tolerance, while about one in two men exhibited high tolerance to same-sex infidelity. Furthermore, men and women exhibited higher tolerance to the same-sex infidelity of their long-term than of their short-term partners, with men exhibiting higher tolerance in the latter case. In addition, women exhibited low tolerance to opposite-sex and same-sex infidelity, but men exhibited low tolerance to opposite-sex infidelity, but much higher tolerance to same-sex infidelity.

scholarly journals Male Tolerance to Same-Sex Infidelity: A Cross-Cultural Investigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 147470491984389
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
Menelaos Apostolou
Keyword(s):  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Sex Attraction ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Opposite Sex

There is accumulating evidence that heterosexual men exhibit tolerance to their partners’ same-sex infidelity. The current study examined such tolerance in the Chinese ( N = 949) and the British ( N = 305) cultural contexts. Consistent with the predictions derived from an evolutionary framework, across different cultural settings, men exhibited higher tolerance than women to their partners’ same-sex infidelity. In addition, if they had to choose, men were considerably more likely than women to prefer their partners to cheat with an individual of the same than of the opposite sex. Participants were also more tolerant of infidelity involving their short-term than their long-term partners. Moreover, men who preferred same-sex attraction in women were more tolerant to the same-sex infidelity of their female partners than men who did not share these preferences. Finally, men and women who experienced same-sex attractions indicated higher tolerance to infidelity. The implications of these finding for the evolution of same-sex attraction in women were further discussed.

scholarly journals Men’s Preference for Women Who Like Women: The Effects of Desire for Sexual Variety and Willingness to Have Sex Without Commitment

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 147470491985680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Menelaos Apostolou
Keyword(s):  
Sex Difference ◽  
Small Proportion ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sociosexual Orientation ◽  
Sex Attraction ◽  
Heterosexual Women ◽  
Sexual Contacts

Heterosexual men, as opposed to heterosexual women, desire mates who experience same-sex attractions and are willing to have same-sex sexual contacts. Yet not all men share such desires, and the current study aims to examine whether the male preferences for same-sex attraction and contact are predicted by desires for sexual variety and having sex without commitment. Using an online sample of 1,277 Greek-speaking participants, we found that men and women who experienced same-sex attractions and desired sexual variety and sex without commitment were more likely to prefer same-sex attraction and contact in a partner. Moreover, we found that a considerable proportion of heterosexual men, but only a small proportion of heterosexual women, preferred same-sex attraction and contact in partner. This sex-difference was statistically significant even after the desire for sexual variety and sociosexual orientation were controlled for.

scholarly journals Sexual unfaithfulness can be judged with some accuracy from men's but not women's faces

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 181552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Zhi Foo ◽  
Antonina Loncarevic ◽  
Leigh W. Simmons ◽  
Clare A. M. Sutherland ◽  
Gillian Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Biological Significance ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Reproductive Costs ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Facial Masculinity ◽  
Opposite Sex

We routinely make judgements of trustworthiness from the faces of others. However, the accuracy of such judgements remains contentious. An important context for trustworthiness judgements is sexual unfaithfulness. Accuracy in sexual unfaithfulness judgements may be adaptive for avoiding reproductive costs associated with having an unfaithful partner. Indeed, emerging studies suggest that women, and to a lesser degree, men, show above-chance accuracy in judging sexual unfaithfulness from opposite-sex faces. In the context of mate guarding, it is important not only to assess the likelihood of a partner defecting, but also to detect same-sex poachers. Therefore, here, we examine whether individuals can also judge sexual unfaithfulness (self-reported cheating and poaching behaviour) from same-sex faces. We found above-chance accuracy in judgements of unfaithfulness from same-sex faces in men but not women. Conversely, we found above-chance accuracy for opposite-sex faces in women but not men. Therefore, both men and women showed above-chance accuracy, but only for men's, and not women's, faces. Raters were making accurate (above-chance) judgements of unfaithfulness from men's faces using facial masculinity, a well-established signal of propensity to adopt short-term mating strategies. In summary, we found above-chance accuracy in impressions of unfaithfulness from men's faces. Although very modest, the level of accuracy could nevertheless have biological significance as an evolved adaptation for identifying potential cheaters/poachers.

Neural activation during anticipation of opposite-sex and same-sex faces in heterosexual men and women

NeuroImage ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja N. Spreckelmeyer ◽  
Lena Rademacher ◽  
Frieder M. Paulus ◽  
Gerhard Gründer
Keyword(s):  
Heterosexual Men ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Opposite Sex

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Motivation for Viewing Sexually Arousing Images

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maiko Kobayashi ◽  
Koyo Nakamura ◽  
Katsumi Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Reproductive Strategies ◽  
Sexual Motivation ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
Viewing Time ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Opposite Sex

AbstractSexual motivation strongly influences mate choice and dating behavior and can be triggered by merely viewing sexually arousing visual images, such as erotic pictures and movies. Previous studies suggested that men, more than women, tend to search for sexual cues that signal promiscuity in short-term mates. However, it remains to be tested whether sex differences in the motivation to view sexual cues can be observed by using robust and well-controlled behavioral measures. To this end, we employed a pay-per-view key-pressing task. Japanese self-identified heterosexual male and female participants viewed images of men, women, or couples with two levels of sexual arousal (sexual vs. less sexual). Participants could alter the viewing time of a presented image according to their willingness to keep viewing it. Male participants were the most eager to view sexually arousing images of the opposite sex, whereas female participants were more strongly motivated to view less sexual images of couples. Such sex differences may reflect differentiated reproductive strategies between men and women in terms of men’s motivation toward promiscuity and women’s motivation toward long-term relationships.

scholarly journals Mutual mate choice drives the desirability of altruism in relationships

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Farrelly ◽  
Laura King
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Physical Attractiveness ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Study Materials ◽  
Mutual Mate Choice ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Important Trait ◽  
Short And Long Term

Although previous research has found that altruism is an important trait in human mate choice, much of this has concentrated on female preferences only. Subsequently, the current study explored how both men and women desire altruistic partners who varied in physical attractiveness for both short and long term romantic relationships. A sample of 136 women and 53 men viewed profiles of members of the opposite sex of either high or low physical attractiveness, alongside scenarios that described them as either being altruistic or not. Participants then rated each targets’ desirability as both a short and long term partner. As hypothesised, altruism was rated more desirable, particularly for long term relationships, by both men and women. However there were inconsistent findings when physical attractiveness was accounted for, which did not support the hypotheses nor directly replicate previous findings. Overall it was concluded that although the study provided strong support for the desirability of altruism being due to mutual mate choice, the additional effects of examining other mate choice traits such as attractiveness shows much is still to be known. Study materials and data available at DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/STXPF

Is pulling the lever sexy? Deontology as a downstream cue to long-term mate quality

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 957-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitch Brown ◽  
Donald F. Sacco
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Trolley Problem ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Moral Decisions ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Prosocial Intentions

Deontological and utilitarian moral decisions have unique communicative functions within the context of group living. Deontology more strongly communicates prosocial intentions, fostering greater perceptions of trust and desirability in general affiliative contexts. This general trustworthiness may extend to perceptions of fidelity in romantic relationships, leading to perceptions of deontological persons as better long-term mates, relative to utilitarians. In two studies, participants indicated desirability of both deontologists and utilitarians in long-term mating (LTM) and short-term mating contexts. In Study 1 ( n = 102), women perceived a deontological man as more interested in long-term bonds, more desirable for LTM, and less prone to infidelity, relative to a utilitarian man. However, utilitarian men were undesirable as short-term mates. Study 2 ( n = 112) had both men and women rate opposite-sex targets’ desirability after learning of their moral decisions in a trolley problem. We replicated women’s preference for deontological men as long-term mates. Interestingly, both men and women reporting personal deontological motives were particularly sensitive to deontology communicating long-term desirability and fidelity, which could be a product of the general affiliative signal from deontology. Thus, one’s moral basis for decision-making, particularly deontologically motivated moral decisions, may communicate traits valuable in LTM contexts.

Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience: the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships

Sexual Health ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Richters ◽  
Dennis Altman ◽  
Paul B. Badcock ◽  
Anthony M. A. Smith ◽  
Richard O. de Visser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Identity ◽  
Female Sexuality ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Participation Rate ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sex Attraction

Background Behavioural and other aspects of sexuality are not always consistent. This study describes the prevalence and overlap of same-sex and other-sex attraction and experience and of different sexual identities in Australia. Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 20 094 men and women aged 16–69 years recruited by landline and mobile phone random-digit dialling with a response rate (participation rate among eligible people) of 66.2%. Respondents were asked about their sexual identity (‘Do you think of yourself as’ heterosexual/straight, homosexual/gay, bisexual, etc.) and the sex of people with whom they had ever had sexual contact and to whom they had felt sexually attracted. Results: Men and women had different patterns of sexual identity. Although the majority of people identified as heterosexual (97% men, 96% women), women were more likely than men to identify as bisexual. Women were less likely than men to report exclusively other-sex or same-sex attraction and experience; 9% of men and 19% of women had some history of same-sex attraction and/or experience. Sexual attraction and experience did not necessarily correspond. Homosexual/gay identity was more common among men with tertiary education and living in cities and less common among men with blue-collar jobs. Many gay men (53%) and lesbians (76%) had some experience with an other-sex partner. More women identified as lesbian or bisexual than in 2001–02. Similarly, more women reported same-sex experience and same-sex attraction. Conclusion: In Australia, men are more likely than women to report exclusive same-sex attraction and experience, although women are more likely than men to report any non-heterosexual identity, experience and attraction. Whether this is a feature of the plasticity of female sexuality or due to lesser stigma than for men is unknown.

Abstract P116: Trait Anger Increases Short-term and Long-term Risk for Recurrent CHD: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Circulation ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice E Williams ◽  
Sharon B Wyatt ◽  
Kathryn M Rose ◽  
David J Couper ◽  
Anna Kucharska-Newton
Keyword(s):  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Trait Anger ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽  
Atherosclerosis Risk ◽  
Aric Study

Though several large epidemiologic studies have demonstrated the positive association of anger with coronary heart disease (CHD) onset, a dearth of population-based evidence exists regarding the relationship of anger to the clinical course of CHD among people with established disease. Trait anger is conceptualized as a stable personality trait and defined as the tendency to experience frequent and intense anger. Therefore, it is plausible that the effects of trait anger on CHD are long standing. We assessed the hypothesis that trait anger predicts short-term and long-term risk for recurrent CHD among middle-aged men and women. Participants were 611 black or white men and women, ages 48 - 67, who had a history of CHD at the second clinical examination (1990-1992) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. They were followed for the recurrence of CHD (myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) from 1990 through three different time intervals: 1995, 2003, and 2009 (maximum follow-up = 19.0 years). Trait anger (measured at Visit 2) was assessed using the Spielberger Trait Anger Scale, with scores categorized as high, moderate, and low. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race-center, educational level, waist-to-hip ratio, plasma LDL-and HDL-cholesterol levels, hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking status, and pack-years of cigarette smoking. After 3 - 5 years of follow-up, the risk for recurrent CHD among participants with high trait anger was more than twice that of their counterparts with low trait anger (2.24 [95% C.I: 1.14 to 4.40]). After 11 - 13 years, the risk was 80% greater (1.80 [95% C.I: 1.17 to 2.78]) and after 17 - 19 years, it was 70% greater (1.70 [95% C.I: 1.15 to 2.52]). The risk for recurrent CHD was strongest in the first time interval but remained strong and statistically significant through 19 years of follow-up. In conclusion, the experience of frequent and intense anger increases short-term and long-term risk for recurrent CHD in middle-aged men and women.

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