bims-chumac 2022-10-16 papers

bims-chumac

Biomed News

on Context effects on human mate choice

Issue of 2022–10–16
eight papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society

To see or not to see (again): Dealbreakers and dealmakers in relation to social inclusion.
What do we know about consensual non-monogamy?
Motivation of non-monogamous adults to engage in sex with their different partners.
Gender Differences in Sending Nude Pictures and Videos Across Multiple Relationship Contexts in the Adult Norwegian Population.
Is a symmetrical face really attractive?
Commentary on: The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness.
A CBCT Evaluation of Esthetic Preference Regarding the Perceived Facial Attractiveness of Young Korean Female Adults with a Normal Skeletal Pattern.
Complementing or Congruent? Desired Characteristics in a Friend and Romantic Partner in Autistic versus Typically Developing Male Adolescents.

Front Psychol. 2022 ;13 1019272

To see or not to see (again): Dealbreakers and dealmakers in relation to social inclusion.

Peter K Jonason, Kaitlyn P White, Abigail H Lowder, Laith Al-Shawaf.

  In this study, we replicated what is known about the relative importance of dealbreakers (i.e., traits avoided) and dealmakers (i.e., traits sought) in romantic and sexual relationships and extended it to an examination of self-reports of mate value, self-esteem, and loneliness. In two experiments (N = 306; N = 304) we manipulated the information people were told about potential partners and asked them about their intentions to have sex again with or go on a second date with opposite sex targets. People were less interested in partners after learning dealbreakers, effects which operated more strongly in the long-term than short-term context, but similarly in men and women. People who reported less self-esteem or more loneliness were more receptive to people with dealbreakers. People who thought they had more mate value, more self-esteem, or less loneliness were more receptive to dealmakers. Results are discussed using sociometer, prospect, and sexual strategies theories.

Keywords:  courtship (dating); decision making; interpersonal relationships; mate choice; mate value

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1019272
Curr Opin Psychol. 2022 Sep 16. pii: S2352-250X(22)00189-0. [Epub ahead of print]48 101468

What do we know about consensual non-monogamy?

Ryan Scoats, Christine Campbell.

  Recent years have seen considerable interest in consensual non-monogamy from both public and academic perspectives. At least 5% of the North American population is currently in a consensually non-monogamous relationship of some form and there is little difference in measures of relationship quality compared to monogamous relationships. Despite increasing levels of understanding and engagement many practitioners of consensual non-monogamy still experience stigma (and minority stress) which is exacerbated by context (e.g. parenting, healthcare settings), type of consensual non-monogamy (e.g. polyamory vs swinging) and intersects with other identities (e.g. race, sexuality). This review outlines what is currently understood about consensual non-monogamy and argues that relationship diversity has a place alongside gender and sexuality when studying sexual behaviours, romantic relationships, and well-being.

Keywords:  Consensual non-monogamy; Healthcare; Romantic relationships; Sexual behaviour; Stigma

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101468
Front Psychol. 2022 ;13 961949

Motivation of non-monogamous adults to engage in sex with their different partners.

Anna Kelberga Kelberg, Baiba Martinsone.

  This study compared motivations of individuals in non-monogamous relationships to engage in sex with their different partners (n = 596, out of which 103 non-consensual non-monogamous, 135 polyamorous, 204 swinging, 154 in open relationships; women-38.8%, men-59.7%, other gender-1.5%; age range: from 18 to 65+ years; 86% of respondents between 25 and 54 years old; majority of the respondents are in a long-term relationship). The research aim was to identify whether there are differences in reasons to engage in sex with respondents' primary versus secondary partners. Presented with 17 reasons to engage in sexual activity, the respondents rated the frequency with which they engage in sex for each reason with their different partners. Questions for 14 reasons to engage in sex were created based on the YSEX? questionnaire and three questions were created specifically for non-monogamous population. The three new questions addressed the desire for a specific type of sex (such as kink, fetish, etc.), desire to have sex with a partner of another gender than one's primary partner, and desire to experience the thrill of the forbidden. The results indicated that there are significant differences in motivation to engage in sex with one's primary versus secondary partner for most of the reasons. Additionally, this study investigated whether there are differences in motivation to engage in sex with different partners depending on the relationship arrangement. The data analysis shows that there are differences in reasons to engage in sex with one's different partners between non-consensually and consensually non-monogamous groups. This research compliments existing body of research with new reasons to engage in sex, it demonstrates that non-monogamous people engage in sex with their different partners for different reasons and reveals that these may vary depending on the type of the relationship arrangement.

Keywords:  non-monogamy; reasons for sex; reasons for sexual activity; sex; sex with different partners; sexual motivation

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.961949
Sex Cult. 2022 Oct 01. 1-21

Gender Differences in Sending Nude Pictures and Videos Across Multiple Relationship Contexts in the Adult Norwegian Population.

Bente Træen, Ingela Lundin Kvalem.

  This article aims to determine the prevalence of sending nude pictures/videos in the Norwegian population and investigates gender differences regarding consensual, unsolicited, and coerced experiences. Data were obtained from a probability-based web survey of 2181 men and 1967 women between 18 and 89 years old. The majority of participants expressed relatively accepting attitudes toward sending nude pictures/videos, and men expressed more positive attitudes than women. Twenty-nine percent of participants reported having lifetime experience with sending nude pictures/videos, and sending nude pictures/videos was more common in younger individuals than older individuals. More women than men claimed that they sent their most recent nude picture to a committed partner, and twice as many men than women had sent a nude picture to a stranger or a person they only had contact with on the Internet. In addition, more than twice as many women than men reported consensual sending nude pictures/videos, and more men than women sent unsolicited pictures/videos. Consensual sending nude pictures/videos was characterized by the presence of men and women within committed relationships. In Norway, sending nude pictures/videos seems to be a way of being sexual in the context of committed relationships.

Keywords:  Adults; Gender differences; Sending nude pictures/videos; Sexting

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-10028-0
Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2022 Oct 08. pii: S0901-5027(22)00406-4. [Epub ahead of print]

Is a symmetrical face really attractive?

N A Harun, K B C Adam, N A Abdullah, N Rusli.

  Facial symmetry plays an important role in facial attractiveness and is one of the major criteria used to determine attractiveness in humans. In craniomaxillofacial surgery, facial symmetry is one of the main considerations. The aim of this study was to determine anthropometric measurements quantitatively and investigate the relationship between facial symmetry and attractiveness in a local Malay population. The study included 30 photographed Malay individuals and 100 photograph assessors, all aged between 18 and 26 years. The assessors indicated their preferences regarding the more attractive face on original and manipulated (symmetrical face) photographs. None of the photographed subjects had a perfectly symmetrical face (asymmetry index (AI) of 0%); 33.3% of the photographed subjects had an AI in the range of 1.6-2.0%. The majority of assessors chose the manipulated symmetrical face as the most attractive (manipulated photograph selected in 91.2% of cases). As facial symmetry is considered a critical factor in attractiveness, it is beneficial to consider balance and symmetry prior to facial reconstruction. The AI values found in this study may be useful as guidance to determine the normal minimum balance of facial symmetry. No AI values indicating perfect symmetry were observed for the unedited facial anthropometric measurements. However, the projection of a perfectly symmetrical face does influence the perception of facial attractiveness.

Keywords:  Aesthetics; Anthropometry; Facial asymmetry; Malaysia; Photograph

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2022.09.031
Aesthet Surg J Open Forum. 2022 ;4 ojac071

Commentary on: The Effect of Wearing a Mask on Facial Attractiveness.

Daniel J Gould, Pedram Goel, Orr Shauly.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojac071
Sensors (Basel). 2022 Sep 25. pii: 7258. [Epub ahead of print]22(19):

A CBCT Evaluation of Esthetic Preference Regarding the Perceived Facial Attractiveness of Young Korean Female Adults with a Normal Skeletal Pattern.

Jin-Hyoung Oh, Jae Hyun Park, Heon Jae Cho, Hye Young Seo, Jong-Moon Chae.

  The aim of this study was to determine the factors that affect esthetic preference regarding the perceived facial attractiveness of young Korean female adults with a normal skeletal pattern using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). After reorienting the CBCT images of 40 young Korean female adults, three-dimensional (3D) measurements were analyzed, and five 3D facial images were digitally constructed. A computer-based questionnaire was used to determine perceived facial attractiveness by scoring from 1 (very unattractive) to 10 (very attractive). Esthetic perception and the most influential facial view and component were examined and compared by orthodontists, general dentists, and laypeople to evaluate facial attractiveness. Compared to the unattractive group, the attractive group had significantly greater values for Pog-NB, L1SI-FH, U lip thickness, L lip-U lip, and Nasolabial angle, along with significantly lower values for U1SI-FH and Cant of U lip; the attractive group also had a more retruded U1MP (p < 0.01), L1MP (p < 0.01), U lip (p < 0.05), and L lip (p < 0.01) relative to N, as well as a more retruded U lip (p < 0.05) and L lip (p <0.001) relative to esthetic lines. Orthodontists and general dentists were more likely to consider the profile view. When evaluating facial attractiveness, orthodontists and laypeople more often focused on the lips and chin. When evaluating facial attractiveness, all evaluators showed a high esthetic preference for retroclination and retrusion of the incisors and lips, but there were some differences in how they perceived facial attractiveness. Therefore, the ultimate perception of facial attractiveness needs to be based on the esthetic perceptions of laypeople.

Keywords:  cone-beam computed tomography; esthetic preference; normal skeletal pattern; perceived facial attractiveness; three-dimensional cephalometric analysis

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3390/s22197258
Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Oct 14.

Complementing or Congruent? Desired Characteristics in a Friend and Romantic Partner in Autistic versus Typically Developing Male Adolescents.

Linda P Dekker, Esther J M van der Vegt, Anneke Louwerse, Kirsten Visser, Jan van der Ende, Athanasios Maras, Frank C Verhulst, Kirstin Greaves-Lord.

  Ideal friend and romantic partner characteristics related to self-perceived characteristics have been investigated in typically developing (TD) individuals, but not in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Considering the autistic symptoms and challenges, investigating these concepts in autistic individuals is relevant. Given the lack of consensus, identity-first ("autistic person") and person-first ("person with autism") language are mixed throughout, to cover all preferences. This study explored (1) the association between self-perceived characteristics and desires in a friend/romantic partner, as well as (2) compare two groups (ASD and TD) in their desires for a friend/romantic partner. Two matched groups (ASD and TD) of 38 male adolescents (age 14-19 years) reported on the desire for nine characteristics (i.e., funny, popular, nice, cool, smart, trustworthy, good looking, similar interests, and being rich) in a friend/partner, and to what extent they felt they themselves possessed seven characteristics (i.e., funny, popular, nice, cool, smart, trustworthy, and good looking). Results showed both groups sought a friend and partner similar to themselves on intrinsic characteristics (e.g., trustworthiness), but less similar on extrinsic and social status characteristics (e.g., being less cool and popular). Particularly intrinsic characteristics, more than extrinsic and social status characteristics, were valued in both partners and friends, regardless of group. No significant differences were found between groups concerning to what extent characteristics were desired. Overall, adolescents with ASD desire similar characteristics as TD adolescents in their potential romantic partners and friends. There is some indication that the match between self-perception and desired characteristics is different.

Keywords:  Adolescents; Autism spectrum disorder; Desires; Friendship; Romantic partner

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-022-02444-y