Sex and sexual orientation differences in sexual attraction

1. Sex and sexual orientation differences in sexual attraction Brad Moser University of Lethbridge

2. Evolution or Culture? • How can evolution and culture account for differences in sexual attraction among the different sexes and sexual orientations? • Which theory do you agree with more: evolutionary, social / cultural, or both?

3. OUTLINE • Informal vote • Introduce game • Sexual strategies theory and 9 hypotheses • Sexual orientation findings • Conclusion • Final vote • Present award for winners of game • Questions / discussion

4. Sexual strategies theory • Evolutionary advantageous – helped our ancestors survive and reproduce • Urge to mate: evolutionary desire (exists across all species)

5. Sexual selection • Definition • 2 processes: • Intrasexual competition • Preferential mate choice

6. Nine hypotheses of sexual strategies theory

7. #1: Short-term mating is more important for men than women • Men have more: • Casual sex • Sexual partners • Short-term mating strategies

8. #2: Men seeking a short-term mate will solve the problem of identifying women who are sexually accessible • Men looking for one-night stands, know where to go

9. #3: Men seeking a short-term mate will minimize commitment and investment • “women fake orgasms, men fake relationships”

10. #4: Men seeking a short-term mate will solve the problem of identifying fertile women#5: Men seeking a long-term mate will solve the problem of identifying reproductively valuable women • Fertility – definition • Reproductively valuable - definition

11. Exaggerated feminine characteristics • Hyperfemale image – enhances appearance of youthfulness and fertility = seen as attractive

12. Female WHR and Weight • Low WHR = more attractive, youthful, healthier, and greater reproductive value • 4 Skinniest figures = unattractive • Normal weight figures = most attractive

13. Culturally-prescribed values of body-weight • Depends on relative amount of food • Cultures with lack of food = plumpness • Cultures with surplus of food = thinness

14. Low HWR and current fashion • Low-rider pants, thong, butt-crack, tattoo on lower back • Learned and popularized by culture

15. #6: Men seeking a long-term mate will solve the problem of paternity confidence • Men – need to be confident that their offspring is theirs

16. Sexual vs. emotional jealousy • Most men – become more jealous and angry if their mate had sex with another man • Most women – become more jealous and angry if their mate developed an emotional attachment with another woman

17. #7: Women seeking a short-term mate will prefer men willing to import immediate resources

18. #8: Women will be more selective than men in choosing a short-term mate • Men: mate quantity • Women: mate quality

19. Body Symmetry • Honest signal for mate quality • Men and women with greater symmetry = more sexual partners than those with lesser symmetry

20. #9: Women seeking a long-term mate will prefer men who can provide resources for her offspring • Women seek successful, wealthy men • While men look at women as sex objects, women look at men as success objects (Buss, 1994)

21. Exaggerated male characteristics • Hypermasculine look – enhances appearance of power, resourcefulness, success

22. Looks or resources? • Man’s looks are less important to women • If man is ugly, can compensate with wealth • Ben Affleck or Bill Gates with $80, 000,000,000?

23. Male WHR and Weight • Normal WHR and normal body-weight = most attractive, healthy, and able to provide and protect

24. Long-term mating strategies • As long-term relationships form, consider: • Personality • Attitude • Religion • Sense of humor • Compatibility, etc • Influenced by culture

25. Sexual orientation differences

26. Emotional expressiveness • Among all four groups (heterosexual m, f, homosexual m, f) = most common preferred characteristic in mate . . .

27. Male interest in pornography • Both men and women = aroused by porn • But, men are more likely to purchase and view porn • Plus, men are more sexually aroused at nude women and genitals (than women are of nude men and genitals)

28. Interest in pornography • Highest among all groups, except heterosexual women XXX

29. Importance of partner’s status • Highest among heterosexual women • Low importance among 3 other groups

30. Male’s interest in uncommitted sex • Slightly higher for homosexual men than heterosexual men • Homosexual men – report more sexual partners than heterosexual men

31. Sexual or emotional jealousy? • Sexual jealousy – highest among heterosexual men • Emotional jealousy – highest among heterosexual women, and homosexual women and men

32. Stereotyped gender of homosexuals • Gay men: feminine mannerisms, interests, and occupations (“femme”) • Lesbians: masculine mannerisms, interests, occupation, haircut, clothing (“butch”) • GAYDAR

33. Gender preference among homosexuals • Gay men (especially masculine) – prefer masculine men • Lesbians (masculine or feminine) – prefer feminine women

34. Age preference • Homosexual and heterosexual men prefer younger partners than homosexual and heterosexual women • More masculine homosexual men and women prefer younger partners than more feminine homosexual men and women

35. Age preference (evolution) • Male sex and masculine gender were favored for younger (and hence more fertile) mates = ensure male reproductive success

36. Sexual orientation difference • Homosexual men – bipolar orientation (either gay or straight) • Homosexual women –orientation along a continuum

37. Social, cross-cultural, and individual differences in attractiveness

38. Social influence of beauty • Physical attractiveness is socially reinforced • Attractive people: receive more affection, success, popularity, and attention from the opposite sex • Attractive people: regarded as more loved, competent, healthy, confident, intelligent

39. Cross-cultural differences in attractiveness • Regard people from other cultures as ugly • Each culture: own beauty fashions

40. Individual differences in attractiveness • Each individual: unique tastes • “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”

41. CONCLUSION

42. Questions?