Summary of:
Parker, J., & Burkley, M. (2009). Who’s chasing whom? The impact of gender and
relationship status on mate poaching. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 45(4),
1016-1019. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2009.04.022
Summary by Jill Clark, Brian Manning, and Heather Thomas
For Dr. Mills’ Psych 310 class, Spring 2011
This article discussed mate poaching which is the tendency to pursue someone who
is already in a romantic relationship. Mate poaching has been researched and deemed a
common practice by people in all countries and nations. Previous research has
demonstrated interesting differences between the genders concerning mate poaching: the
most poignant being that males are more likely to engage in mate poaching behavior then
females. Another difference between the genders is that men who are surrounded by
women are rated as more attractive by females. The opposite is true for males: when a
female is surrounded by other men, she is rated as less desirable. This idea is reinforced by
research on animal mating that has shown females are more likely to choose a male that
other females have also chosen. A recent study found evidence that women are more
attracted to men already in a relationship, but this attraction was heavily influenced by the
woman’s ovulation cycle. Additionally, a woman is also more likely to find an attached
male attractive if she herself is currently in a relationship and is not fertile.
The present study aimed to examine men and women’s evaluations of both single
and attached targets. Predictions were as follows: women would demonstrate more
attraction toward attached individuals then toward single individuals, but men would
demonstrate no preference toward attached or single individuals. Women who found the
attached men more attractive were expected to be single women.
One hundred and eighty-four undergraduate students from Oklahoma State
University served as participants of this study. A little under half identified as single, while
a little over half identified as attached. Participants completed a survey on their personal
ideal romantic partner and preferences. This information was then used to “match” the
participants with another individual who gave similar responses. All participants were
shown the same photo of the opposite sex target who was previously rated as moderately
attractive. Opposite sex targets were labeled as either single or attached. Participants then
indicated how interested they were in pursuing the opposite sex target as well as the
physical attractiveness of the target.
Results demonstrated men were more interested in the target then women in
general, regardless of relationship status. Single women were more interested in pursuing
an attached male compared to a single male. This means single women are more likely to
engage in mate poaching behavior when the opposite sex target was in a relationship.
These results demonstrate men are more likely to engage in mate poaching behavior
regardless of the target’s relationship status whereas women seem to be more interested in
pursuing a mate that is less available to them. This finding goes against the responses of a
recent poll where women reported poaching behavior did not think the attached
relationship status of the target played a role in their mate poaching behavior. This finding
may be due to the fact that attached men, because in a relationship, demonstrate an
availability of resources and ability to commit. These are key factors women use to choose
a mate. Men who are attached have already demonstrated an availability of resources and
ability to commit, and therefore are seen as acceptable mates.
Article Outline
1. Gender Differences in Mate poaching
a. Universal act
b. Previously researched gender differences
i. Men engage in mate poaching more, women less
c. Animal mate poaching tendencies
2. Methods of Present Study
a. 184 participants
b. 2 X 2 X 2 factorial design
c. Surveyed personal preferences
d. showed photographs of opposite-sex target
i. opposite sex target was labeled “single” or “attached”
e. rate how interested they were in pursuing target and target’s attractiveness
3. Results/Discussion
a. In general men more interested in target then women
b. Single women more interested in poaching attached target
c. Attached women less interested in pursuing attached target compared to single
target
Informative/Interesting:
1. Those who mate poach are more likely to score low in agreeableness and
conscientiousness than those who did not on The Big Five Inventory
2. Women are more attracted to attached men but this effect is heavily influenced by the
female’s ovulation cycle; women are more attracted to taken men, but only when in a
relationship themselves and are not fertile
3. Men find women attractive regardless if attached or single
Weaknesses:
1. For target photo, participants saw only one photograph of opposite sex; should have
multiple photos of male and female targets
2. Photographs were of “moderately attractive” individuals, but asked to rate on a scale of 3 (very unattractive) to 3 (very attractive)
3. Participants had no communication with the target, simply indicated interest of future
interactions
Test Questions
1. Results demonstrated single women were more interested in poaching an attached target.
Which theory does this emulate?
a. Perfect Catch Hypothesis
b. Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection
c. Sexy Son Hypothesis
2. True/False: Men rate women as less desirable when they are surrounded by other men
3. True/False: Are women more likely than men to prefer an already taken individual
4. Women are more attracted to attached men when their fertility is:
a. Low
b. High
c. Fertility has no effect
5. The reasons for women preferring an attached male mate are:
a. He has established a willingness to commit
b. He has demonstrated availability of resources
c. He is attractive to other females
d. All of the above
6. True/False: Mate poaching is a specific activity of US and Europe inhabitants
Answers:
1. C
2. T
3. T 4. A
5. D
6. F