Why Mate Choices are not as Reciprocal as we Assume: The Role of Personality, Flirting and Physical Attractiveness

Back, Mitja D.; Penke, Lars; Schmukle, Stefan C.; Sachse, Karoline A.; Borkenau, Peter; Asendorpf, Jens B.

doi:10.1002/per.806

Cited by 78 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…A wealth of empirical findings shows that reciprocating romantic attraction influences interpersonal relationships (Back et al, 2011;Greitemeyer, 2010;Peretti & Abplanalp, 2004;Sprecher, 1998;Whitchurch et al, 2011). Because the reciprocation of romantic attraction is desired and expected from potential partners (Back et al, 2011), researchers have sought to explain why playing hard to get (i.e., withholding attraction) is a beneficial dating strategy (Walster et al, 1973).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because the reciprocation of romantic attraction is desired and expected from potential partners (Back et al, 2011), researchers have sought to explain why playing hard to get (i.e., withholding attraction) is a beneficial dating strategy (Walster et al, 1973). Brehm's emotion intensity theory, supported by Study 2 results, explain the underlying mechanism regarding reciprocity and attraction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Playing Moderately Hard to Get: An Application of Brehm’s Emotion Intensity Theory

Reysen

Katzarska‐Miller

2013

Interpersona

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In two studies, we examined the effect of different degrees of attraction reciprocation on ratings of attraction toward a potential romantic partner. Undergraduate college student participants imagined a potential romantic partner who reciprocated a low (reciprocating attraction one day a week), moderate (reciprocating attraction three days a week), high (reciprocating attraction five days a week), or unspecified degree of attraction (no mention of reciprocation). Participants then rated their degree of attraction toward the potential partner. The results of Study 1 provided only partial support for Brehm's emotion intensity theory. However, after revising the high reciprocation condition vignette in Study 2, supporting Brehm's emotion intensity theory, results show that a potential partners' display of reciprocation of attraction acted as a deterrent to participants' intensity of experienced attraction to the potential partner. The results support the notion that playing moderately hard to get elicits more intense feelings of attraction from potential suitors than playing too easy or too hard to get. Discussion of previous research examining playing hard to get is also re-examined through an emotion intensity theory theoretical lens.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Playing Moderately Hard to Get: An Application of Brehm’s Emotion Intensity Theory

Reysen

Katzarska‐Miller

2013

Interpersona

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…When evaluating another for mate potential, attraction can arise from a range of different attributes such as physical attractiveness, personality, values, and so on [43]. The human perception of attraction is influenced by factors such as media exposure, family pressure, and status.…”

Section: Attractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With the use of visual perception, sexual selection can occur; a natural selection of one human over another, based on preferences of certain characteristics [44,45]. This selection for a potential mate is an important social decision that people make and is a prerequisite for further involvement [43].…”

Section: Attractionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Colored Apparel - Relevance to Attraction in Humans

Sullivan¹,

Kazlauciunas²,

Guthrie³

2017

J Fashion Technol Textile Eng

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There are numerous different dyes available, many varied fashion trends, and various different ways to change/enhance physical aesthetics. Predicting color preferences and how colors and color combinations, in a shape context, stimulate certain emotions, represents a challenging prospect. Color is a critical cue for sexual signaling, but what the preferred colors actually are in humans, is difficult to predict. Understanding color preferences and perception of color within a context such as attraction, is essential for improving color forecasting and gaining a deeper understanding of color perception. The appearance of color can change based on lighting, shape, texture, and the surrounding environment and associated colors. While these provide physical color characteristics, human vision and perception contributes to how a color appears to the individual. Perception is unique to each individual and is constantly changing due to the influence of a range of variables. This can cause someone to appear visually attractive or visually unattractive. By taking into account all the variables that contribute to human studies in color perception, tailored research can continue to be undertaken to further develop a deeper understanding of color perception and human attraction regarding visual stimulation. and their longer-term mates (i.e. husband/wife/partner, fiancé, longterm relationship) to be physically attractive [5]. For heterosexual groupings, studies have shown that when evaluating a female's attractiveness, men focus not only on physical cues such as facial expression and body language but also on the type and color of their clothing [6]. KeywordsFor centuries, females have been attracted to the use of color. In the 1930's, Korda et al. [7] stated that color was particularly attractive to female cinema audiences. Yevonda, in the 1930s, stated that women were more attached to the use of color photography than were men as the medium was better able to highlight visible signs of the times, such as red hair, uniforms, flawless complexions and cosmetic combinations (lips and colored finger nails) [8]. Such use allowed females to express themselves more fully [8]. Females use color in a variety of different ways including adding beauty to their aesthetic characteristics. The use of colored make-up, accessories, tattoos, hair colorants and clothing are among ways of enhancing physical appearances. However, it is not uncommon for men to use color in certain ways to change their physical appearance, increasing their potential to attract a potential partner.These colors and color combinations, that women see and perceive as being important in increasing their physical attractiveness, can be different to those that males find attractive. Questions have arisen concerning the role color plays in human attraction. To appreciate the significance of these questions, a basic understanding of how color is created, how the human visual system works, how the brain perceives color, what attraction is, the role of color in fash...

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“…We know of only three studies that included investigations of the Matching Hypothesis for global mate value in reallife dating situations, and these studies yielded mixed evidence. Whereas Todd et al (2007) did not find evidence that matching on mate value increased participants' likelihood of choosing a potential partner in a speed-dating situation, Back, Penke, et al (2011) found that participants of a speed-dating event were more likely to flirt with each other if they were more closely matched on mate value. In addition, Taylor et al (2011, Study 4) showed that users of an online dating platform were more likely to communicate with opposite-sex users who had a similar mate value to their own.…”

mentioning

confidence: 93%

Preprint of "The Impact of Mate Value in First and Subsequent Real-Life Romantic Encounters"

Wurst¹,

Humberg²,

Back³

2018

Preprint

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We provide a first systematic investigation of the most prominent hypotheses about the impact of mate value on interpersonal attraction in real-life early-stage romantic encounters.Using Response Surface Analysis, we simultaneously examined how (a) people's perception of their own mate value, (b) their perception of a potential partner's mate value, and (c) the interplay between the two mate values impact initial romantic attraction and selection as well as subsequent interpersonal outcomes after selection. Data came from the "Date me forScience" speed-dating study (n = 398), in which participants who mutually selected each other at the speed-dating event were followed up with 3 assessments in the 6 weeks after the event to assess subsequent outcomes. Participants' romantic attraction, likelihood of selecting, and subsequent interpersonal outcomes with a dating partner almost exclusively depended on their perception of their dating partner's mate value: the higher, the better. There was no evidence for the popular matching hypothesis, which states that people feel attracted to and select dating partners whom they perceive to have a mate value similar to their own.Implications of these findings for theory and research on the impact of mate value on romantic attraction and selection are discussed. Word count: 198Keywords: human mate selection, similarity, assortative mating, courtship, longitudinal speed-dating study Running head: MATE VALUE AND REAL-LIFE ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS 3 Mate value-i.e., an individual's overall value to potential partners in the mating market-is a central construct in many theories on human mate selection and romantic relationship functioning (e.g., Buss, Goetz, Duntley, Asao, & Conroy-Beam, 2017; Eastwick, 2016; Eastwick & Hunt, 2014; Fisher, Cox, Bennett, & Gavric, 2008;Miller & Todd, 1998;Penke, Todd, Lenton, & Fasolo, 2008;Sela, Mogilski, Shackelford, Zeigler-Hill, & Fink, in press; Starratt, Weekes-Shackelford, & Shackelford, 2017). One of the most crucial questions about mate value is how it influences romantic attraction and partner choice. Two competing theoretical assumptions about this influence dominate the field: the idea that individuals feel attracted to and select potential partners who are similar to themselves in mate value versus the idea that individuals feel attracted to and select potential partners with a high mate value (e.g., Olderbak, Malter, Wolf, Jones, & Figueredo, 2017;Penke et al., 2008; Taylor, Fiore, Mendelsohn, & Cheshire, 2011; Van Straaten, Engels, Finkenauer, & Holland, 2009; see also Ellis & Kelley, 1999). Prior empirical examinations of these hypotheses have predominantly focused on specific aspects of mate value (especially physical attractiveness; e.g., Berscheid, Dion, Walster, & Walster, 1971; Curran & Lippold, 1975;Montoya, 2008; Van Straaten et al., 2009; Walster, Aronson, Abrahams, & Rottman, 1966), but only a few studies so far have investigated global mate value-and these few studies revealed mixed evidence regarding the two hypo...

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Why Mate Choices are not as Reciprocal as we Assume: The Role of Personality, Flirting and Physical Attractiveness

Cited by 78 publications

References 64 publications

Playing Moderately Hard to Get: An Application of Brehm’s Emotion Intensity Theory

Playing Moderately Hard to Get: An Application of Brehm’s Emotion Intensity Theory

Colored Apparel - Relevance to Attraction in Humans

Preprint of "The Impact of Mate Value in First and Subsequent Real-Life Romantic Encounters"

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