Partner Preferences Among Homosexual Men and Women: What Is Desirable in a Sex Partner Is Not Necessarily Desirable in a Romantic Partner

Abstract

In the present study we examined the degree to which various partner characteristics are preferred by homosexual men and women in a short-term sexual relationship versus a long-term romantic relationship. A non-college sample of adults (N = 80) individually rated the desirability of various attributes in a "short-term sexual" or a "long-term romantic" partner (randomly assigned). The results indicated that participants clearly distinguished between these two types of relational partner. Specifically, and consistent with hypotheses, both men and women emphasized internal mental attributes (e.g., intellect), prosocial personality characteristics (e.g., interpersonal sensitivity, responsiveness), and characteristics reflective of family orientation (e.g., desire for children) more in a long-term romantic, than in a short-term sexual, partner. Conversely, and consistent with earlier work using heterosexual samples, men and women desired higher levels of physical appeal (e.g., physical attractiveness, sexy appearance) from a potential sex partner than from a potential romantic partner. Sex differences also were found. Men desired honesty and trustworthiness from a short-term sex partner more than did women, and women valued a longterm romantic partner's family orientation more than did men.Keywords: partner preferences, homosexual men and women, romantic versus sexual partner.For decades, scholars from a variety of disciplines have been interested in the traits men and women desire in potential mates, in part because such preferences have implications for people's behavior and their interpersonal relationships. The majority of research on mate selection has focused on the preferences of heterosexual populations, and reveals that most men and women desire intelligent, honest, emotionally stable partners who are attractive and who possess a "good or "exciting" personality (e.g.

Ideal Partner Preferences Among Adolescents

“…This result is similar to those reported in the adult preference literature (e.g., Kenrick, Groth, Trost, & Sadalla, 1993;Regan, 1998;Regan, Medina, & Joshi, 2001) and suggests that physical appeal is a highly important dimension in the evaluation and selection of short-term sexual partners. These participants also valued characteristics reflective of sexual passion and drive (e.g., sexual responsiveness and passion, high sex drive) in this type of relational partner.…”

A Guide for the Estimation of Gender and Sexual Orientation Effects in Dyadic Data: An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model Approach

“…For example, numerous empirical studies of mate preference regardless of theoretical orientation have found that men value physical attractiveness more than do women, whereas women value social status more than do men (e.g., Berscheid & Walster, 1974;Buss, 1989;Buss & Barnes, 1986). However, as we have illustrated along with others (e.g., Kenrick et al, 1995;Regan et al, 2001), mate preferences depend on more than respondent gender. Moreover, gender of the respondent examined without the inclusion of gender of the partner and sexual orientation provides a relatively limited picture of the role of gender in partner preferences.…”

Sexual Coercion Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Aotearoa/New Zealand

“…Many of the participants discussed having contacted men for casual sex through the Internet; 4 three talked about how this had on occasion resulted in having sex with men to whom they were not attracted. Many emphasized the importance of physical attraction in casual sexual encounters (see also Regan, Medina, & Joshi, 2001). Oliver suggested that in such casual or one-off contexts, physical attraction and sexual compatibility are the most important components: men for casual sex spoke of going to hotels or having people arrive at their homes, only to discover that the prospective partners had misrepresented their appearances to varying degrees or that they simply were not attracted to these men "in the flesh."…”