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

Fhionna Moore*, Clare Cassidy, David I. Perrett

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 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
JournalEvolutionary psychology : an international journal of evolutionary approaches to psychology and behavior
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2010

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