By Sarah o’Connor, Jill Clark, and Moses Galvez Human Mating By Sarah o’Connor, Jill Clark, and Moses Galvez Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

Introduction Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger were interested in: They investigated whether stress alters males preference for self-resembling mates How mating is crucial to both human and animal life; people generally have a mate choice similar to themselves This study wanted to find out if mating preferences vary with context Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

Hypothesis Non-stressed participants would show a preference for similar mates, as indicated by decreased startle magnitude in the presence of pictures of self-resembling erotic female nudes. Stressed participants would not show the usual preference for similar mates, but instead a preference for dissimilar mates, as indicated by an inhibition of startle magnitude (indicating approach motivation) in the presence of pictures of other-resembling female nudes and non- manipulated female nudes. Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

Background Life History Theory (Stearns 1992): predicts optimal reproductive strategy for individuals in stressful environments is to maximize reproduction in order to minimize chances of lineage extinction Stress is an adaptive response that is typically thought to enhance the probability of survival in the face of threat, but it is becoming apparent that stress is also associated with sexual behavior and mate choice. For example, corticos- terone (a hormone released in response to stress) has been shown to reduce male odour preferences in female mice (Kavaliers & Ossenkopp 2001). Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

Methods 50 male heterosexual students at the University of Trier, Germany Limitations: No beards No piercings No tatoos in the facial region Needed to have normal or corrected to normal vision and no history of hearing problems Needed to be a healthy non-smoker with body mass index in the normal range of between 20 and 25 kg m2 Required to refrain from physical exercise, alcohol, caffeinated drinks and meals within 3 hours prior to experimental sessions Exclusion criteria determined by a telephone screening interview with the respondent Research was approved by the responsible local ethics committee, and all participants gave their written informed consent. Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

Results Non-Stressful Circumstances: Stressful conditions: Facial self-resemblance increases attractiveness ratings Activity of neurobiological structures involved in approach motivation, suggesting similar potential mates lead to greater approach motivation which leads to higher sexual attractiveness than dissimilar mates Stressful conditions: mating preferences seem to be reversed Findings indicate greater approach motivation to other-resembling female nudes Non-manipulated female nudes under stressful circumstances, and thus to higher sexual attractiveness of dissimilar mates compared with similar mates Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

Critical Review 3 interesting points: 1. The Effects of Stress on mating preference in humans as well as animals 2. Under stressful conditions mating preferences are altered due to fear of lineage extinction 3. That cold water has such a large effect on cortisol levels Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

Critical Review 3 Weak Points: 1. Although they are obviously aroused by women under those stressful conditions it doesn’t necessarily mean they will mate with them 2. Could use different levels to raise cortisol levels than just cold water 3. Avoiding the limitation of participants possibly unconsciously recognizing themselves in the erotic photos Effects of Stress on Human Mating Preferences: Stressed Individuals Prefer Dissimilar Mates Authors: Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Christian E. Deuter, Linn K. Kuehl, André Schulz, Terry D. Blumenthal and Hartmut Schachinger

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