Sex and sexual orientation differences in sexual attraction Brad Moser University of Lethbridge

Evolution or Culture? How can evolution and culture account for differences in sexual attraction among the different sexes and sexual orientations? How can evolution and culture account for differences in sexual attraction among the different sexes and sexual orientations? Which theory do you agree with more: evolutionary, social / cultural, or both? Which theory do you agree with more: evolutionary, social / cultural, or both?

OUTLINE 1. Informal vote 2. Introduce game 3. Sexual strategies theory and 9 hypotheses 4. Sexual orientation findings 5. Conclusion a) Final vote b) Present award for winners of game c) Questions / discussion

Sexual strategies theory Evolutionary advantageous – helped our ancestors survive and reproduce Evolutionary advantageous – helped our ancestors survive and reproduce Urge to mate: evolutionary desire (exists across all species) Urge to mate: evolutionary desire (exists across all species)

Sexual selection Definition Definition 2 processes: 2 processes: Intrasexual competition Intrasexual competition Preferential mate choice Preferential mate choice

Nine hypotheses of sexual strategies theory

#1: Short-term mating is more important for men than women Men have more: Men have more: Casual sex Casual sex Sexual partners Sexual partners Short-term mating strategies Short-term mating strategies

#2: Men seeking a short-term mate will solve the problem of identifying women who are sexually accessible Men looking for one-night stands, know where to go

#3: Men seeking a short-term mate will minimize commitment and investment “women fake orgasms, men fake relationships”

#4: Men seeking a short-term mate will solve the problem of identifying fertile women #5: Men seeking a long-term mate will solve the problem of identifying reproductively valuable women Fertility – definition Fertility – definition Reproductively valuable - definition Reproductively valuable - definition

Exaggerated feminine characteristics Hyperfemale image – enhances appearance of youthfulness and fertility = seen as attractive Hyperfemale image – enhances appearance of youthfulness and fertility = seen as attractive

Female WHR and Weight Low WHR = more attractive, youthful, healthier, and greater reproductive value Low WHR = more attractive, youthful, healthier, and greater reproductive value 4 Skinniest figures = unattractive 4 Skinniest figures = unattractive Normal weight figures = most attractive Normal weight figures = most attractive

Culturally-prescribed values of body-weight Depends on relative amount of food Depends on relative amount of food Cultures with lack of food = plumpness Cultures with lack of food = plumpness Cultures with surplus of food = thinness Cultures with surplus of food = thinness

Low HWR and current fashion Low-rider pants, thong, butt-crack, tattoo on lower back Low-rider pants, thong, butt-crack, tattoo on lower back Learned and popularized by culture Learned and popularized by culture

#6: Men seeking a long-term mate will solve the problem of paternity confidence Men – need to be confident that their offspring is theirs

Sexual vs. emotional jealousy Most men – become more jealous and angry if their mate had sex with another man Most men – become more jealous and angry if their mate had sex with another man Most women – become more jealous and angry if their mate developed an emotional attachment with another woman Most women – become more jealous and angry if their mate developed an emotional attachment with another woman

#7: Women seeking a short-term mate will prefer men willing to import immediate resources

#8: Women will be more selective than men in choosing a short-term mate Men: mate quantity Men: mate quantity Women: mate quality Women: mate quality

Body Symmetry Honest signal for mate quality Honest signal for mate quality Men and women with greater symmetry = more sexual partners than those with lesser symmetry Men and women with greater symmetry = more sexual partners than those with lesser symmetry

#9: Women seeking a long-term mate will prefer men who can provide resources for her offspring Women seek successful, wealthy men Women seek successful, wealthy men While men look at women as sex objects, women look at men as success objects (Buss, 1994) While men look at women as sex objects, women look at men as success objects (Buss, 1994)

Exaggerated male characteristics Hypermasculine look – enhances appearance of power, resourcefulness, success

Looks or resources? Man’s looks are less important to women Man’s looks are less important to women If man is ugly, can compensate with wealth If man is ugly, can compensate with wealth Ben Affleck or Bill Gates with $80, 000,000,000? Ben Affleck or Bill Gates with $80, 000,000,000?

Male WHR and Weight Normal WHR and normal body-weight = most attractive, healthy, and able to provide and protect Normal WHR and normal body-weight = most attractive, healthy, and able to provide and protect

Long-term mating strategies As long-term relationships form, consider: As long-term relationships form, consider: Personality Personality Attitude Attitude Religion Religion Sense of humor Sense of humor Compatibility, etc Compatibility, etc Influenced by culture Influenced by culture

Sexual orientation differences

Emotional expressiveness Among all four groups (heterosexual m, f, homosexual m, f) = most common preferred characteristic in mate...

Male interest in pornography Both men and women = aroused by porn Both men and women = aroused by porn But, men are more likely to purchase and view porn But, men are more likely to purchase and view porn Plus, men are more sexually aroused at nude women and genitals (than women are of nude men and genitals) Plus, men are more sexually aroused at nude women and genitals (than women are of nude men and genitals)

Interest in pornography Highest among all groups, except heterosexual women Highest among all groups, except heterosexual women XXX XXX

Importance of partner’s status Highest among heterosexual women Highest among heterosexual women Low importance among 3 other groups Low importance among 3 other groups

Male’s interest in uncommitted sex Slightly higher for homosexual men than heterosexual men Slightly higher for homosexual men than heterosexual men Homosexual men – report more sexual partners than heterosexual men Homosexual men – report more sexual partners than heterosexual men

Sexual or emotional jealousy? Sexual jealousy – highest among heterosexual men Sexual jealousy – highest among heterosexual men Emotional jealousy – highest among heterosexual women, and homosexual women and men Emotional jealousy – highest among heterosexual women, and homosexual women and men

Stereotyped gender of homosexuals Gay men: feminine mannerisms, interests, and occupations (“femme”) Lesbians: masculine mannerisms, interests, occupation, haircut, clothing (“butch”) GAYDAR

Gender preference among homosexuals Gay men (especially masculine) – prefer masculine men Gay men (especially masculine) – prefer masculine men Lesbians (masculine or feminine) – prefer feminine women Lesbians (masculine or feminine) – prefer feminine women

Age preference Homosexual and heterosexual men prefer younger partners than homosexual and heterosexual women Homosexual and heterosexual men prefer younger partners than homosexual and heterosexual women More masculine homosexual men and women prefer younger partners than more feminine homosexual men and women More masculine homosexual men and women prefer younger partners than more feminine homosexual men and women

Age preference (evolution) Male sex and masculine gender were favored for younger (and hence more fertile) mates = ensure male reproductive success Male sex and masculine gender were favored for younger (and hence more fertile) mates = ensure male reproductive success

Sexual orientation difference Homosexual men – bipolar orientation (either gay or straight) Homosexual men – bipolar orientation (either gay or straight) Homosexual women –orientation along a continuum Homosexual women –orientation along a continuum

Social, cross-cultural, and individual differences in attractiveness

Social influence of beauty Physical attractiveness is socially reinforced Physical attractiveness is socially reinforced Attractive people: receive more affection, success, popularity, and attention from the opposite sex Attractive people: receive more affection, success, popularity, and attention from the opposite sex Attractive people: regarded as more loved, competent, healthy, confident, intelligent Attractive people: regarded as more loved, competent, healthy, confident, intelligent

Cross-cultural differences in attractiveness Regard people from other cultures as ugly Regard people from other cultures as ugly Each culture: own beauty fashions Each culture: own beauty fashions

Individual differences in attractiveness Each individual: unique tastes Each individual: unique tastes “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”

CONCLUSION

Questions?