Murray State University
Sexual Selection Strategies and Sociosexual Orientation at Odds
Institution
Murray State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Jana Hackathorn
Abstract
Sociosexual orientation (SO), one’s willingness to engage in sexual behaviors outside of committed relationships, has been linked to pursuing physically attractive partners. This study examined the relationship between SO and attractiveness, resources, and masculinity of targets. Findings suggest that females with unrestricted SO tend to undervalue attractiveness, resources, and masculinity. Perhaps it is because these females are not searching for commitment but are only interested in the act of intercourse, also resulting in a decrease value of perceived physical attractiveness and masculinity of those they seek out for intimacy. Perhaps unrestricted SO heterosexual females have no interest in producing offspring with those they seek and pursue thus resulting in the devaluing of the mentioned traits that normally play a role in sexual selection strategies.
Sexual Selection Strategies and Sociosexual Orientation at Odds
Sociosexual orientation (SO), one’s willingness to engage in sexual behaviors outside of committed relationships, has been linked to pursuing physically attractive partners. This study examined the relationship between SO and attractiveness, resources, and masculinity of targets. Findings suggest that females with unrestricted SO tend to undervalue attractiveness, resources, and masculinity. Perhaps it is because these females are not searching for commitment but are only interested in the act of intercourse, also resulting in a decrease value of perceived physical attractiveness and masculinity of those they seek out for intimacy. Perhaps unrestricted SO heterosexual females have no interest in producing offspring with those they seek and pursue thus resulting in the devaluing of the mentioned traits that normally play a role in sexual selection strategies.