PS287 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Casual Sex, Physical Attractiveness, Social Desirability Bias
Document Summary
Similarities: both men and women similar interest in romantic relationships, both men and women desire support and companionships from romantic relationships. Sex differences: women status / earning potential, men physical attractiveness. In real life, there are tradeoffs we don"t evaluate one characteristic in isolation of the rest: may depend on nature of relationship. Casual (1 night stand) sex differences increase: real world mate selection also depends on other person"s behaviour / desires. Gay and lesbian value some characteristics in a mate as heterosexual (affection, share interests etc). Men physical attractiveness in mate is sign of fertility. Women money is sign men can care for offspring. Potential attracts hypothesis: attractive women should be attracted to high status men: no evidence, people match on physical attractiveness, social role theory. Division of labor in society linked to sex differences in mate selection. Sex differences should decrease as women"s and men"s roles become similar.
