Males in contemporary culture

1. Males in contemporary culture By: Krystal Gamez, Alex Loera, Blake Mellgren

2. Journal Article • Young, J.A., Critelli, J.W., & Keith, K.W. (2005). Male age preferences for short-term and long-term mating. Sexualities, Evolution and Gender, 7, 83-93.

3. The Study: Participants • 148 males from a large southwestern university in the USA • Male age preferences for short-term and long-term mating • Age range from 17 to 29 years old • The mean age was 19.83 • All had to be 30 yrs or younger, not married, without children, and heterosexual

4. The Study: Procedure • Created a “cultural scenario” separate from the norms of American culture and society • Created the new “world” with elements of sexual fantasy so that a context for “making age preference choices” would manifest itself • Allows for closer approximation to the effects of evolutionary predispositions

5. The Study: The Scenario • Participants read hypothetical scenario placing them in “Arunta” culture • Were told females at age 13 were considered adults • Told it was not uncommon to have one-night sexual encounters, but that marriage was “for life” • both occur in equal amounts

6. The study: Questionaire • Asked about: • If it would be easy to act as an adult the “Arunta” Culture? • What age would your bride be if having an arranged marriage? • What age would you “live independently” of parents? • If someone was arranging a one-night sexual encounter what age of female would you prefer? • Also asked to describe reasoning behind answers ( 1 and 3 buffer questions)

7. Results • “Males preferred younger females for long term sexual relationships than for a brief sexual encounter”

8. Results • Marriage • males prefer females to be 16.87 (mean) years of age • 3.02 years younger than males • One-Night Sexual Encounter • males prefer females to be 17.76 (mean) years of age • 2.07 years younger than males

9. Results • Max future reproductive value is younger than age of optimal fertility • When looking for short term relationship males look for older females • When looking for long term relationship males want a younger aged female • Provides support for “partial genetic control” for age preferences in short and long term partners

10. Limitations of Study • Should ask older males • May have overemphasized young rather than older females in study • Stating that adult is 13 (priming?) • Only used university students • Should do some cross-cultural analysis

11. Discussion At what age should a woman be married? 25 b) 30 c) 35 d) 40 e) No Age Limit At what age should a man be married? 25 b) 30 c) 35 d) 40 e) No Age Limit If a male pill was created would you ask your husband/boyfriend to take it? Yes b) No If a male pill were available, would you take it? a) Yes b) No

12. Video http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/men-women-on-relationships/6lf1mzh

13. Do males prefer women to be _____ when looking for a brief sexual encounter? Younger b) Same Age c) Older How many years younger do males prefer their partner for a long-term relationship? 1.5 years b) 2.07 years c) 3.02 years d) 4.04 years