Self-perceived sociosexuality and mate value asymmetry in heterosexual romantic relationships

Previous works have shown that sociosexuality may affect mate choice and correspond to partners’ mate value (MV). However, there is a lack of studies that directly show how a difference between both partners’ mate values (MVD) relates to reproductive strategies. In this study we investigated a possi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inAnthropological review (Poznań, Poland) Vol. 77; no. 3; pp. 287 - 298
Main Authors Gomula, Aleksandra, Nowak-Szczepanska, Natalia, Danel, Dariusz P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Poznan De Gruyter Open 01.12.2014
University of Łódź
Lodz University Press
Subjects
Evolutionary psychology
Gender
Interpersonal relations
mate choice
Mate selection
mate value difference
Personal relationships
Questionnaires
Reproduction
reproductive strategies
Self image
Self-perception
Sexual behavior
Sexual reproduction
Sexuality
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Previous works have shown that sociosexuality may affect mate choice and correspond to partners’ mate value (MV). However, there is a lack of studies that directly show how a difference between both partners’ mate values (MVD) relates to reproductive strategies. In this study we investigated a possible link between self-reported measures of individual differences in human mating strategies (SOI-R) and self-perceived mate value asymmetry (difference between partners’ MV) in heterosexual romantic relationships. Two hundred forty-nine heterosexual participants (all in romantic relationships) completed an online questionnaire. Their sociosexuality was measured using Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R) (Penke and Asendorpf 2008). The assessment of the participant’s and his/her partner’s MVs were obtained using the MV measure by Graham-Kevan and Archer (2009). MVD was calculated by deducting the assessment of partner’s MV and MV self-assessment. Our results revealed that in men, with the increase of the discrepancy in mate value in favor of their female partners, male global sociosexuality and sociosexual desire decreased. In contrast, in women no significant correlations were found. We propose several possible explanations, based on evolutionary psychology, discussing our results within the context of potential benefits for reproductive success in both sexes due to the lower male sociosexuality
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:1898-6773
2083-4594
DOI:10.2478/anre-2014-0022