Evolutionary Psychologist Shares How Women Select Men

Summary

This discussion delves into sexual selection theory, highlighting differences in mating strategies between men and women. It explains how sexual selection evolves traits leading to mating success, through processes like intrasexual competition and mate choice. Women tend to be choosier in short-term sexual encounters due to higher reproductive costs, while men display a greater desire for sexual variety. Evidence from studies shows that men are more willing to engage in casual sex with strangers, while women prioritize intelligence and security, especially in long-term relationships. The role of personality traits like agreeableness and dark triad behaviors is also briefly touched upon.

Takeaways

• 😀 Women are generally choosier than men when it comes to selecting sexual partners, especially in casual sex contexts.
• 🧬 Sexual selection theory differs from natural selection in focusing on traits that lead to mating success rather than survival.
• 🦌 Darwin identified two main processes in sexual selection: same-sex competition (intrasexual competition) and female choice (intersexual selection).
• 🤼‍♂️ In same-sex competition, traits like strength, cunning, and athleticism that lead to winning mating contests get passed on more frequently.
• 👩‍⚖️ Female choice involves women being selective about mates based on desirable qualities, which gives men with those traits a reproductive advantage.
• 👶 According to Parental Investment Theory, the sex that invests more in offspring, typically women, tends to be choosier in mate selection.
• 💔 Men generally have a higher desire for sexual variety than women, leading to more willingness for casual sex or short-term partners.
• 💡 A classic study showed that while over 50% of both men and women agreed to go on a date, 75% of men agreed to have sex with a stranger, while 0% of women did.
• 🧠 Women maintain higher standards for traits like intelligence in short-term partners compared to men, who show less concern for intelligence in casual sexual encounters.
• 💔 Men are more likely to agree that 'sex without love is okay' than women, reflecting a significant difference in attitudes toward casual sex.

Q & A

What is sexual selection theory, and how does it differ from natural selection?

Sexual selection theory focuses on the evolution of traits that increase an individual's mating success, while natural selection is more about traits that enhance survival. Sexual selection is non-random and involves processes such as intrasexual competition and mate choice, while natural selection is more related to survival of the fittest.

What are the two primary mechanisms of sexual selection mentioned in the script?

The two mechanisms are intrasexual competition, where individuals of the same sex compete for access to mates (e.g., physical combat between males), and intersexual selection, where one sex (often females) selects mates based on desirable traits.

Why are women considered the 'choosier' sex when it comes to selecting sexual partners?

Women are considered choosier due to their greater investment in offspring, such as pregnancy, which increases the costs of making poor mating decisions. They are more selective, especially in casual or short-term mating contexts, to ensure their partner has desirable traits like good genetics and the potential to invest in offspring.

What evidence is there for women's greater selectiveness in casual sex compared to men?

One classic study mentioned involved asking men and women if they would go on a date, go to an apartment, or have sex with a stranger. Over 50% of women agreed to a date, 6% agreed to go to the apartment, and 0% agreed to have sex. In contrast, 75% of men agreed to have sex, demonstrating that men are more willing to engage in casual sex.

How does the desire for sexual variety differ between men and women?

Men generally have a higher desire for sexual variety compared to women. This is reflected in men's greater willingness to engage in casual sex and their lower requirements for partner intelligence or other traits when it comes to purely sexual relationships.

What role does intelligence play in partner selection for short-term versus long-term relationships?

For long-term relationships, both men and women value higher intelligence (around the 65th or 70th percentile). However, for short-term relationships, men drastically lower their intelligence requirement, while women still maintain a relatively high standard.

What does the sociosexuality inventory reveal about attitudes toward casual sex?

The sociosexuality inventory includes the statement 'sex without love is okay.' On a seven-point scale, men average around 5.5, indicating they generally agree with this statement, while women average around 3.5, showing they are less comfortable with casual sex without emotional attachment.

Does agreeableness influence attitudes toward casual sex?

The script suggests that agreeableness, which involves traits like compassion and empathy, might influence comfort with casual sex. Higher agreeableness could lead to placing greater value on emotional connections in sexual relationships, though no specific studies linking Big Five traits to casual sex attitudes were mentioned.

How does the dark triad personality relate to attitudes towards casual sex?

The dark triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) is associated with lower agreeableness, which might explain why individuals with dark triad traits are more likely to engage in casual sex or manipulate others in sexual contexts.

Has the study about casual sex between strangers been replicated in other countries?

Yes, the study has been replicated in several European countries, though ethical constraints make such research difficult to conduct in the U.S. and Canada today.