Buss - Sex differences in human mate preference

Question 0

Aims:

Answer 0

Aimed to investigate mate preferences are evolutionary.

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Parental investment - Females choose a man that would offer the resources to increase their reproductive success such as earning capacity, ambition, and industriousness.

Reproductive value - Age and fertility are closely related in females so more likely for a man to choose a young attractive mate than females.

Paternity probability - Men are more likely to choose a mate that is a virgin as he knows that the offspring is theirs rather than someone elses. Less important for women as they are certain of their own parenthood however is important that the men don’t have other offsprings as they may need to share resources

Question 2

Procedures

Answer 2

Used 37 samples from 33 countries.
10 047 Participants
Different sampling techniques:
Germany - Newspaper ad
New Zealand - High school kids from 3 schools
Estonia - in one sub-sample used people applying for a marriage liscence

2 questionnaires
Rating and ranking

Rating:
rated biographical data (age, gender, religeon etc)
rated mate preferences ( Age wish to marry, age difference, children)
Scale (asked to rate 18 characteristics on a 4 point scale)

Ranking:
Asked to put 13 characteristics in a rank order.

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

In 97% of samples women valued good financial prospects more highly than males

In92% of samples women valued ambition and industriousness more highly than males.

In all samples men preferred mates who were younger more than women.

In all samples men rated good looks as important more than women.

In 62% of samples males prefer chastity more than females but in the other 14 samples it was view as insignificant.

Question 4

Conclusions

Answer 4

1. Females based mate on financial capacity
2. Females valued ambition
3. Males valued physical attractiveness
4. Females preferred older mates
5. Males valued chastity more than femals

Question 5

Methodology

Answer 5

Questionnaire
Not repeated
Extensive efforts made to make sure all participants understood.
answers may have been affected by social desirability bias
Ranking may not be very effective

Different sampling methods used
Mean age 23
Large scale of samples

Concerned about socially sensitive research

Question 6

Alternative evidence

Answer 6

Cunninngham - Found close agreement across cultural groups when rating female attractiveness

Little - provided evidence that facial symmetry is an indicator of fertility as it suggests genetic robustness.

Dunbar - Found that straight women are 3x more likely to look for resources than lesbians. Gay men advertised resources about half as often as straight men.
Backs evolution up as gay people are not likely to look for reproductive criteria.