University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Social-economic theory and short-term mate preferences: The effects of gender roles and socioeconomic status

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 20:49 authored by March, E, Rachel Grieve

Objective Men's and women's mate preferences in long-term relationships have been extensively considered in research. However, men's and women's short-term mate preferences have not received nearly as much attention. In particular, theoretical origins of men's and women's short-term mate preferences have received limited consideration in comparison to long-term relationships. Specifically, although evolutionary origins of short-term mate preferences have been discussed, elements of social-economic theory (i.e., socioeconomic status (SES) and gender roles) have not yet been explored. The current study sought to address the gap in the literature concerning short-term mate preferences and social-economic theory.

Method Seven hundred eighty-one participants were recruited to complete a questionnaire that included the mate budget paradigm.

Results: For men, results showed significant independent effects of SES and gender roles on a short-term mate's physical attractiveness scores, but no significant interaction. Results also showed no significant main effect of SES and gender roles on short-term mate's social level scores, although there was a significant interaction between a masculine gender role and medium and high SES. For women, there were no independent or interactive effects of SES and gender roles on physical attractiveness and social level scores.

Discussion: Results were interpreted in relation to both evolutionary and social-economic theories, specifically discussing strategic pluralism and sexual strategies theories. Results of the study highlight the need for increased awareness of independent and interactional effects of social-economic theory elements on men's and women's short-term mate preferences, and further exploration of relationships outside the dichotomy of long and short term.

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of Psychology

Volume

68

Issue

4

Pagination

241-250

ISSN

0004-9530

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Australian Psychological Soc

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

Copyright 2015 The Australian Psychological Society

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in psychology

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC