Mixed support for sexual selection theories of mate preferences in the Swedish population
(2008) In Evolutionary Psychology 6(4). p.575-585- Abstract
- Evolutionary theory predicts the existence of relatively stable sex differences in partner preferences with, for example, males being more concerned with traits predicting high fertility and females with traits predicting high resource availability. We tested three predictions using personal advertisements from both traditional newspapers and internet dating services. In accordance with predictions, men offered resources more often than did women, and women requested resources more often than did men. Males in all age-categories preferred younger partners. Young females preferred older males, but the pattern was reversed for the majority of females past their fertile period. In contrast to predictions, there was no difference between males... (More)
- Evolutionary theory predicts the existence of relatively stable sex differences in partner preferences with, for example, males being more concerned with traits predicting high fertility and females with traits predicting high resource availability. We tested three predictions using personal advertisements from both traditional newspapers and internet dating services. In accordance with predictions, men offered resources more often than did women, and women requested resources more often than did men. Males in all age-categories preferred younger partners. Young females preferred older males, but the pattern was reversed for the majority of females past their fertile period. In contrast to predictions, there was no difference between males and females in the degree to which they offered, or asked for, physical attractiveness. Based on our results and a review of previous studies, we suggest that sex differences in factual or advertised preference for physical attractiveness may be more labile than sex differences in preference for resources and status across societies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4731568
- author
- Gustavsson, Lena ; Johnsson, Jörgen and Uller, Tobias LU
- publishing date
- 2008
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Evolutionary Psychology
- volume
- 6
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 575 - 585
- publisher
- Human Nature Review
- ISSN
- 1474-7049
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- e757ae8b-b201-414e-bbda-9c7a4355fa43 (old id 4731568)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-04 09:24:08
- date last changed
- 2018-11-21 20:52:50
@article{e757ae8b-b201-414e-bbda-9c7a4355fa43,
abstract = {{Evolutionary theory predicts the existence of relatively stable sex differences in partner preferences with, for example, males being more concerned with traits predicting high fertility and females with traits predicting high resource availability. We tested three predictions using personal advertisements from both traditional newspapers and internet dating services. In accordance with predictions, men offered resources more often than did women, and women requested resources more often than did men. Males in all age-categories preferred younger partners. Young females preferred older males, but the pattern was reversed for the majority of females past their fertile period. In contrast to predictions, there was no difference between males and females in the degree to which they offered, or asked for, physical attractiveness. Based on our results and a review of previous studies, we suggest that sex differences in factual or advertised preference for physical attractiveness may be more labile than sex differences in preference for resources and status across societies.}},
author = {{Gustavsson, Lena and Johnsson, Jörgen and Uller, Tobias}},
issn = {{1474-7049}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{575--585}},
publisher = {{Human Nature Review}},
series = {{Evolutionary Psychology}},
title = {{Mixed support for sexual selection theories of mate preferences in the Swedish population}},
volume = {{6}},
year = {{2008}},
}