bims-chumac 2021-03-07 papers

Issue of 2021–03–07
four papers selected by
Jay Dixit, Storytelling.NYC

Front Psychol. 2021 ;12 617754

Male Mating Expectations in Brazilian and American Samples.

Felipe Nalon Castro, Wallisen Tadashi Hattori, Steven J C Gaulin, Maria Emília Yamamoto, Fívia de Araújo Lopes.

This study aims to investigate assortative mating based on mate value from male perspective. Male participants (132 Brazilian and 106 American) evaluated hypothetical "stimulus" males described in terms of physical attractiveness, social skills, and social status (each varied in high or low levels). Participants rated each stimulus and each stimulus' preferred mating partner on nine traits. The results showed that (1) positive assortative mating was expected in romantic relationships; (2) the stimulus ratings did not vary independently, suggesting that mate value is the result of the interaction of the characteristics of individuals; and (3) that participants expected physically attractive and healthier female partners to pair with high-status male stimuli. The American and Brazilian mating expectations were similar, minor differences indicate that Brazilian participants considered men with high levels of social skills to be more ambitious and intelligent; American participants expected men of high status to be healthier; Brazilians expect men of high status to have more attractive faces, while Americans expected these men to possess more attractive bodies; and Brazilian participants assigned more attractive bodies to men of lower status. These differences reflect the influence of economic and cultural factors on the local environment. The study contributes to the understanding of the construction of market value and reveals that male expectations are in line with human mating preferences. The investigation of mating expectations can be a rich approach to investigate socio-cultural aspects that are related to mating in different cultures.

Keywords: cross-cultural; mate value; mating preference; men; reproduction

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.617754

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 16. pii: 1914. [Epub ahead of print]18(4):

Commitment, Dominance, and Mate Value: Power Bases in Long-Term Heterosexual Couples.

Jitka Lindová, Tereza Habešová, Kateřina Klapilová, Jan Havlíček.

We assessed the relative contribution of economic, personal, and affective power bases to perceived relationship power. Based on evolutionary studies, we predicted that personality dominance and mate value should represent alternative personal power bases. Our sample was comprised of 84 Czech heterosexual couples. We measured the economic power base using self-report scales assessing education, income and work status. Personal power bases were assessed using self-report measures of personality dominance (International Personality Item Pool Dominance and Assertiveness subscale from NEO Personality Inventory-Revised Extraversion scale), and partner-report measures of mate value (Trait-Specific Dependence Inventory, factors 2-6). The first factor of Trait-Specific Dependence Inventory, which measures agreeableness/commitment was used to assess the affective power base. Our results show that perceived relationship power is associated with a perception of partner's high agreeableness/commitment. Moreover, women's personality dominance and mate value are also linked with perceived relationship power, which supports our evolutionary prediction of dominance and mate value working as power bases for women. The stronger effect of women's than men's power bases may be due to gender differences in investment into relationships and/or due to transition to more equal relationships currently sought by women in the Czech Republic.

Keywords: commitment; dominance; mate value; power bases; relationship power

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041914

J Sex Res. 2021 Mar 03. 1-12

Navigating Women's Low Desire: Sexual Growth and Destiny Beliefs and Couples' Well-Being.

Stephanie Raposo, Natalie O Rosen, Serena Corsini-Munt, Jessica A Maxwell, Amy Muise.

People's beliefs about how to maintain sexual satisfaction have been associated with how they navigate sexual differences, but research has yet to explore the consequences of these beliefs for couples facing a distressing sexual issue. The current research extends past work on sexual growth beliefs (i.e., the view that sexual satisfaction requires continuous effort to maintain) and sexual destiny beliefs (i.e., the view that sexual satisfaction is the result of natural sexual compatibility with a partner) to couples for whom these beliefs might be especially consequential - those coping with sexual dysfunction. In a dyadic longitudinal study of 97 couples coping with women's clinically significant low desire and arousal, we tested how sexual growth and destiny beliefs are associated with sexual, relationship, and personal well-being. We found that endorsing greater sexual growth beliefs was associated with higher sexual desire for both partners, whereas, with some exceptions, endorsing greater sexual destiny beliefs was linked to lower sexual desire and relationship satisfaction, more conflict, and more depressive and anxious symptoms. However, these effects did not persist one year later. Our findings highlight the implications of sexual growth and destiny beliefs for both couple members when navigating a chronic sexual difficulty.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1884179