Beyond Sexual Stereotypes (Focus on Female Short-term Mating) Sexually seductive behavior across the menstrual cycle. Why and when women might seek multiple mates. - Multiple mates as an alternative to finding the perfect mate. - Multiple mates as a means of making genetically diverse offspring.

Sexual strategies theory: Stereotype: Men: All about short-term mating (eager, multiple mates). Women: All about long-term mating (cautious, monogamous). But: Men: Specific benefits associated with long-term mating strategies too. Women: Specific benefits associated with short-term mating strategies too. Sexual strategies theory: Context-contingent flexibility in mating strategies.

Sexually seductive behavior across the menstrual cycle: When women are more likely to conceive, they engage in more sexually seductive behavior. Example: Strippers’ tips. (Miller et al., 2007)

Sexually seductive behavior across the menstrual cycle: When women are more likely to conceive, they engage in more sexually seductive behavior. Example: Strippers’ tips. Examples: Clothing choice. (Durante, Li, & Haselton, 2008)

Sexually seductive behavior across the menstrual cycle: When women are more likely to conceive, they engage in more sexually seductive behavior. Example: Strippers’ tips. Examples: Clothing choice. (Eisenbruch et al., 2015)

Sexually seductive behavior across the menstrual cycle: When women are more likely to conceive, they engage in more sexually seductive behavior. Example: Strippers’ tips. Examples: Clothing choice.  “Eagerness”  “Choosiness”

Why and when women might seek multiple mates. Multiple mates as an alternative to finding the perfect mate. Multiple mates as a means of making genetically diverse offspring.

Multiple mates as an alternative to finding the perfect mate. Problem: Few mates have it all. Potential solution: Multiple mates. Long-term relationship with “good dad”. Covert short-term mating with “sexy cad”. Implications: Interest in “extra-pair mating.” Especially with sexy mates. Especially when most fertile. “sexy cad” “good dad”

Results: Desirability as a short-term mate Research on female flirting (Cantu et al., 2014) - Sexual attraction to, and flirting with, “good dads” and “sexy cads.” - Variation across the menstrual cycle. Results: Desirability as a short-term mate

Results: Flirting behavior Research on female flirting (Cantu et al., 2014) - Sexual attraction to, and flirting with, “good dads” and “sexy cads.” - Variation across the menstrual cycle. Results: Flirting behavior

Multiple mates as a means of making genetically diverse offspring. Problem: Ecological circumstances change; implications for offspring survival. Potential solution: Multiple mates. Increased genetic diversity across entire pool of offspring. Increased likelihood that some offspring will survive and reproduce. Implications: Seek multiple mates, especially under unstable ecological circumstances. Diversity of disease-causing pathogens Multi-mate mating strategies (among females) More genetically diverse set of offspring Greater total reproductive fitness

“The Growing Problem of Disease in America: A Sick Future Ahead” Beliefs about the future influence female sexual attitudes. (Hill et al., 2015) Results: Women preferred higher number of future sexual partners (compared to control conditions). This effect occurred primarily for women who perceived their immune systems to be relatively weak. This effect occurred only among women. “The Growing Problem of Disease in America: A Sick Future Ahead” “The Economics of the 21st Century: A Harsh and Unpredictable World” “Making the Grade: No Longer a Walk in the Park”