WJEC Psychology Psy 2 Core Studies

WJEC Psychology Psy 2Core Studies Buss, D. (1989) 'Sex differences in human mate preferences'

Aims • Buss's aimed to find out if mate selection is adaptive. • He investigated the characteristics in potential mates across cultures. • Cross-cultural studies are important as they help us to see if there are species-typical or sex-typical preferences. • It not only gives information about the current direction of sexual selection, but may also reflect the selection pressures that were evident in ancestors.

Participants • 10,047 participants from 33 countries, located on six continents and five islands. • The samples varied in size from 55 in Iran to 1,491 in USA (mainland) • The Iranian sample was the only sample to have less than 100 participants. • The age of the participants in the sample groups ranged from 17 years in New Zealand to 29 years in West Germany.

The countries that took part • Nigeria, S. African (whites), S. African (Zulu), Zambia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel (Jewish), Israel (Palestinian), Japan, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Estonian S.S.R., Poland, Yugoslavia, Belgium, France, Finland, Germany – West, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Canada (English), Canada (French), USA (Mainland), USA (Hawaii), Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela.

Procedures • Two questionnaires were used to find out participants mate preferences. • Occasionally questions had to be altered to reflect the cultural differences, for example, in Nigeria where polygamy is the norm questions were added to account for the possibility of multiple wives.

Procedures • The research helpers in each country did not know of the overall aims of the study (only Buss knew). • This was so that there was no bias in the way the questions were worded or interpreted.

Procedures • The first questionnaire measured the factors that affect mate choice. • There were eighteen characteristics on the questionnaire but some of them were not important to the study (e.g. sociability).

Procedures The main things Buss was looking for on the first questionnaire were how each sex valued: • Good financial prospects • Good looks • Age differences • Chastity (no previous sexual experience) • Ambition and industriousness Participants indicated how important they thought each item was on a 0 – 3 scale (0 = irrelevant and 3 = very important)

Procedures • The second questionnaire required participants to put 13 factors affecting mate choice in order of importance. • The sort of things on the list included ‘good earning capacity’ and ‘physical attractiveness’.

Findings • The results were consistent with the evolutionary theory, although there were some cultural differences in mate selection. • Some things were valued by men and women equally in all cultures (e.g. intelligence, kindness etc.)

Findings • Buss did find evidence for evolutionary theory as there were clear differences in what women wanted in a mate and what men wanted. • Women valued ambition, industriousness, economic resources and financial stability in men so that they could be provided for, protected and supported.

Findings • Men valued two things more than women did and they were physical attractiveness and youth (men wanted women younger than they were). • This is consistent with evolutionary theory as younger women would be able to provide children.

Findings • The most important difference between cultures was the value put on chastity. • Some cultures (e.g. China) thought that chastity was essential and other countries (e.g. Ireland) thought it was important but not essential, while in Scandinavia it was not seen as important at all.

Conclusions • Buss found that all people, regardless of culture want a mate who is kind, dependable, intelligent and healthy. • Everyone valued love or mutual attraction in a relationship. • All people wanted a mate who would help them produce and care for their off-spring. • Buss concluded that the research provided support for evolutionary theory on all the areas looked at in the study.

Evaluation • The study was conducted in on a very large scale in many countries and cultures which gives a very representative sample. • The two different measures (2 questionnaires) provided a way of checking validity. • As it is true that men would have more chance of reproduction with a young, healthy adult female the research supported the evolutionary (socio-biological) theory.

Evaluation • The samples were not similar in all countries and this may have affected the outcome. • The evolutionary explanation is determinist as it suggests that our mate selection is determined by our genetic makeup which we have no control over. • The questionnaire had to be translated in many countries and there are issues with meaning and translation that may have affected how the questions were interpreted.

WJEC Psychology Psy 2 Core Studies