How to Flirt Best: the Perceived Effectiveness of Flirtation Techniques

Four studies were implemented in order to ascertain how men and women flirt with potential partners and which flirtatious actions are considered most effective. Study 1 (n = 40) and Study 2 (n = 60) sought to discover the actions that men and women, respectively, engage in to indicate romantic interest to a partner. Study 3 (n = 110) sought to determine which flirtatious acts from women are perceived as most effective by men. Women’s flirtations that suggest sexual access were expected to be rated as most effective. Study 4 (n = 222) sought to determine which flirtatious acts from men are perceived as most effective by women. Men’s flirtations that suggest emotional commitment and exclusivity were expected to be rated as most effective by women. The results were consistent with the hypotheses and are discussed in terms of prior research

Friendship as a relationship infiltration tactic during human mate poaching

Previous research has characterized human mate poaching as a prevalent alternative mating strategy that entails risks and costs typically not present during general romantic courtship and attraction. This study is the first to experimentally investigate friendship between a poacher and his/her target as a risk mitigation tactic. Participants (N = 382) read a vignette that differed by whether the poacher was male/female and whether the poacher and poached were friends/acquaintances. Participants assessed the likelihood of the poacher being successful and incurring costs. They also rated the poacher and poached on several personality and mate characteristics. Results revealed that friendship increased the perceived likelihood of success of a mate poaching attempt and decreased the perceived likelihood of several risks typically associated with mate poaching. However, friend-poachers were rated less favorably than acquaintance-poachers across measures of warmth, nurturance, and friendliness. These findings are interpreted using an evolutionary perspective. This study complements and builds upon previous findings and is the first experimental investigation of tactics poachers may use to mitigate risks inherent in mate poaching

Letter of Purpose of the Feminist Evolutionary Psychology Society

It has been almost five years since the formation of the Feminist Evolutionary Psychology Society (FEPS), which was created with the hopes of drawing attention to issues that influence women’s role in evolution. In those years, FEPS has changed into a more structured society with clear aims. In this letter, we review the rationale for creating FEPS, as well as how we structured FEPS to be an effective organization. The majority of the letter pertains to four distinct goals of FEPS that we will continue to address in the future. These goals are to investigate the active role of women in human evolution, reexamine previous findings, highlight understudied topics, and call attention to diverse populations

Does Skin Color, Facial Shape, and Facial Width to Height Ratio (FWHR) Play a Role in Black Male Facial Evaluation

The present research sought to determine how skin color, facial shape, and facial width to height ratio (fWHR) affect ratings of 10 Black male facial shapes. Based on evolutionary theory and prior research, the rectangular, quadratic, inverted trapezium, and pentagonal faces were hypothesized to receive the highest attractiveness, dominance, maturity, masculinity, strength, and social competence ratings. Additionally, faces with higher fWHRs were expected to receive higher dominance, strength, and masculinity ratings. Smaller, round or oval faces were hypothesized to receive highest warmth ratings. The results were partially consistent with these hypotheses. The examination of the effect of skin color was exploratory. Skin color did not affect ratings of the faces. These findings are discussed in terms of evolutionary adaptations and prior research

The Big-5 and the Perceived Effectiveness of Love Acts

!e present research was implemented in order to determine whether or not the Big-5 personality dimensions relate to the perceived effectiveness of love acts discovered in prior research. An internet based questionnaire was utilized and college undergraduates and as well as non-college students were included in the sample. !e Big-5 dimensions of Agreeableness, Openness to Experience, and Emotional Stability were expected to be related to the perceived effectiveness of the Love acts. Additionally, men and women were expected to rate Love acts signaling commitment and exclusivity as most effective. !e results obtained were consistent with the hypotheses and are discussed in terms of prior research

Sex Differences in Hookup Behavior: A Replication and Examination of Parent-Child Relationship Quality

In the current research, we assessed the impact of parent-child relationships on attitudes toward, and engagement in, hookup behaviors using a sample of 407 college students. Based on prior research, it was hypothesized that heterosexual participants, especially women, who do not perceive themselves as having a strong, close, positive relationship with their opposite-sex parent would be more likely to engage in or attempt to engage in casual sexual behavior (hookups). Also, men were expected to be more satisfied with, and more in agreement with, hookup behavior than women. The results were partially consistent with the hypotheses. Men were more satisfied with and more in agreement with hookup behavior than women. But, opposite sex parent-child relationship quality only affected men’s agreement with the hookup behavior of their peers. Men with lower relationship quality with their mothers agreed more with the hookup behavior of their peers. These results are discussed in relation to prior research on hooking up and prior research on parent-child relationships

Friendship as a relationship infiltration tactic during human mate poaching.

Previous research has characterized human mate poaching as a prevalent alternative mating strategy that entails risks and costs typically not present during general romantic courtship and attraction. This study is the first to experimentally investigate friendship between a poacher and his/her target as a risk mitigation tactic. Participants (N = 382) read a vignette that differed by whether the poacher was male/female and whether the poacher and poached were friends/acquaintances. Participants assessed the likelihood of the poacher being successful and incurring costs. They also rated the poacher and poached on several personality and mate characteristics. Results revealed that friendship increased the perceived likelihood of success of a mate poaching attempt and decreased the perceived likelihood of several risks typically associated with mate poaching. However, friend-poachers were rated less favorably than acquaintance-poachers across measures of warmth, nurturance, and friendliness. These findings are interpreted using an evolutionary perspective. This study complements and builds upon previous findings and is the first experimental investigation of tactics poachers may use to mitigate risks inherent in mate poaching

The Influence of Self-Perceptions of Attractiveness on Substance Use: Sex Differences in Predictors of Alcohol Consumption in College Students

Prior research demonstrates the negative relationship between self-esteem and alcohol use (Emery, 1993; Page, 1995; Winter, 2017), and prior research demonstrates how self-perceptions of attractiveness are fundamentally important (Barkow 1978; Wade, 2000, 2003). However, there is a paucity of research regarding exactly how self-perceptions of attractiveness, and mate value, which are related to self-esteem (Wade, Thompson, Tashakkori, Thompson, & Valente 1989; Tashakkori, Thompson, Wade, & Valente, 1990; Wade, 2000, 2003), influence alcohol consumption habits in college men and women. Using undergraduates, (66.4% female, 83.4% Caucasian), the present study examined how self-perceived attractiveness, self-esteem, mate value, sociosexuality, and sex of participant affect alcohol consumption. Lower self-perceptions of attractiveness, and mate value were hypothesized to be associated with increased alcohol use, particularly among women. The results were partially consistent with the hypothesis. A sex difference occurred such that self-perceived mate value was a significant positive predictor of alcohol consumption for women only. Additionally, self-perceived physical attractiveness was a significant negative predictor of alcohol consumption for men, while self-perceived sexual attractiveness was a significant positive predictor for men. Sociosexuality was a significant positive predictor for both sexes. These findings are discussed in terms of prior research

Does the Presence of a Learning Disability Elicit a Stigmatization?

Aims: To determine whether or not a Learning Disability(LD) label leads to stigmatization. Study Design: This research used a 2(sex of participant) x 2(LD label)x 2 (Sex of stimulus person) factorial design. Place and Duration of Study: Bucknell University, between October 2010 and April 2011. Methodology: Sample: We included 200 participants (137 women and 63 men, ranging in age from 18 – 75 years, M = 26.41. Participants rated the stimulus individual on 27 personality traits, 8 Life success measures, and the Big-5 personality dimensions. Also, participants completed a Social Desirability measure. Results: A MANOVA revealed a main effect for the Learning Disability description, F(6, 185) = 6.41 p\u3c .0001, eta2 = .17,for the Big-5 personality dimensions, Emotional Stability, F(1, 185) = 13.39, p \u3c .001, eta2 = .066, and Openness to Experiences F(1,185) = 7.12, p\u3c .008, eta2 = .036.Stimulus individuals described as having a learning disability were perceived as being less emotionally stable and more open to experiences than those described as not having a learning disability. Another MANOVA revealed a main effect for having a disability or not, F(8, 183) = 4.29, p\u3c .0001, eta2 = .158, for the Life Success items, Attractiveness, F(1, 198) = 16.63, p\u3c .0001, eta2 = .080, and Future Success,F(1, 198) = 4.57, p\u3c .034, eta2 = .023. Stimulus individuals described as having a learning disability were perceived as being less attractive and with less potential for success than those described as not having a learning disability. Conclusion: The results of this research provide evidence that a bias exists toward those who have learning disabilities. The mere presence of an LD label had the ability to cause a differential perception of those with LDs and those without LDs

A Choice of Color: Does Lingerie Color Affect Perceived Attractiveness and Evolutionary Fitness?

Prior research examining the effect of color on perceived attractiveness is equivocal. Also, no research has examined how the color of lingerie affects perceptions. This research explored the effect of the color of lingerie that a woman was wearing on individuals’ perceptions of her attractiveness and evolutionary fitness. Three colors of lingerie were used in this study: Black lingerie, Red lingerie, and White lingerie. These images were presented to 72 men and 82 women. Participants rated the woman’s perceived physical attractiveness, sexual attractiveness, trustworthiness, nurturance, masculinity, femininity, dominance, healthiness, enthusiasm, social competence, affectionateness, intelligence, short term mate potential, long term mate potential, parenting ability, success, status, and age. It was hypothesized that the woman in white lingerie would be rated as most attractive and most evolutionarily fit. The results were partially consistent with the hypothesis. Lingerie color did not affect perceived attractiveness. But, the woman in white lingerie was rated as friendliest, most successful, best mate, and healthiest