PS4029/30 Perspectives on social attributions Lecture 8

1.Strategic female preferences for masculine faces [recap] 2.Menstrual cycle and masculinity preferences 3.Menstrual cycle and stereotype access 4.Menstrual cycle and attitudes to partner 5.Pregnancy and food preference 6.Pregnancy and face preference Lecture 8: Menstrual cycle and face preferences

Costs associated with choosing masculine long-term partner: Low investment Risk of desertion ‘cold’ 1. Strategic female preferences for masculine faces [recap] Benefit associated with choosing masculine short-term partner: Offspring health Little et al. - chapter in Rhodes textbook

Costs associated with choosing masculine long-term partner: Low investment Risk of desertion ‘cold’ 1. Strategic female preferences for masculine faces [recap] Benefit associated with choosing feminine long-term partner: Investment Paternal care Little et al. - chapter in Rhodes textbook

One-night stands Affairs (EPC’s) 1. Strategic female preferences for masculine faces [recap] Long-term partner Little et al. - chapter in Rhodes textbook NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF ADULTERY

2.Menstrual cycle and masculinity preferences Attraction to masculine men strongest when fertile due to attraction to cues of heritable immunity to infectious disease (particularly when judging men for possible short-term relationship)

2.Menstrual cycle and masculinity preferences Attraction to feminine men strongest at other times due to attraction to cues to investment and pro-social personality traits (e.g. ‘warmth’) Penton-Voak et al Nature

2.Menstrual cycle and masculinity preferences Cyclic shifts in masculinity preference not restricted to judgments of faces. Also occurs for judgments of: Voices (Feinberg et al. 2006) Behavioral displays (Gangestad et al., 2005) Bodies (Little et al., 2007)

2.Menstrual cycle and masculinity preferences Early research into the hormonal mechanisms for cyclic changes in masculinity preferences emphasized the effects of changes in progesterone (Jones et al. 2005; Puts, 2006). More recent research has also identified testosterone as an important mechanism for cyclic shifts in masculinity preferences (Welling et al. 2007)

3.Menstrual cycle and sex- classification Women are quicker to correctly classify the sex of male faces (but not female faces) during ovulation (high fertility) Macrae et al Psych Sci

4. Menstrual cycle and attitudes to partner Women are more likely to fantasize about men other than their primary partner and report being less committed to their primary partner during ovulation (high fertility) than at other times Gangestad et al. 2002; Jones et al. 2005

5. Pregnancy and food preference During pregnancy women demonstrate increased aversion to food that may be contaminated (e.g. meat) May protect developing fetus and compensate for maternal immunosupression?

5. Pregnancy and face preference Cues associated with illness are visible in faces? Cues such as pallor may be unattractive because of contagion avoidance

5. Pregnancy and face preference Pregnant women demonstrate stronger aversions to unhealthy male and female faces than non- pregnant women do

5. Pregnancy and face preference Pregnancy is characterized by raised progesterone This also occurs in the luteal (low fertility) menstrual cycle phase

5. Pregnancy and face preference Attraction to healthy faces is strongest during the luteal phase than late follicular (fertile) phase and following oral contraceptive use Pregnancy, ‘pill’ and menstrual cycle - Jones et al Proc Roy Soc London B

L8 Key Themes When fertile Prefer masculine Less committed to partner Tolerant of current illness When prog high Prefer feminine Very committed to partner Aversion to current illness

L8 Key Themes When fertileWhen prog high