Sex and sexual orientation
differences in sexual
attraction
Brad Moser
University of Lethbridge
Evolution or Culture?

How can evolution and culture account for
differences in sexual attraction among the
different sexes and sexual orientations?

Which theory do you agree with more:
evolutionary, social / cultural, or both?
OUTLINE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Informal vote
Introduce game
Sexual strategies theory and 9
hypotheses
Sexual orientation findings
Conclusion
a)
b)
c)
Final vote
Present award for winners of game
Questions / discussion
Sexual strategies theory

Evolutionary advantageous – helped our
ancestors survive and reproduce

Urge to mate: evolutionary desire (exists
across all species)
Sexual selection

Definition

2 processes:

Intrasexual competition

Preferential mate choice
Nine hypotheses of sexual
strategies theory
#1: Short-term mating is more
important for men than women

Men have more:

Casual sex

Sexual partners

Short-term mating
strategies
#2: Men seeking a short-term mate
will solve the problem of identifying
women who are sexually
accessible

Men looking for one-night stands, know
where to go
#3: Men seeking a short-term mate
will minimize commitment and
investment

“women fake orgasms, men fake
relationships”
#4: Men seeking a short-term mate
will solve the problem of identifying
fertile women
#5: Men seeking a long-term mate
will solve the problem of identifying
reproductively valuable women
Fertility – definition
 Reproductively valuable - definition

Exaggerated feminine
characteristics

Hyperfemale image –
enhances appearance of
youthfulness and fertility =
seen as attractive
Female WHR and Weight

Low WHR = more attractive, youthful,
healthier, and greater reproductive value

4 Skinniest figures = unattractive

Normal weight figures = most attractive
Culturally-prescribed values of
body-weight

Depends on relative amount of food

Cultures with lack of food = plumpness

Cultures with surplus of food = thinness
Low HWR and current fashion

Low-rider pants,
thong, butt-crack,
tattoo on lower back

Learned and
popularized by culture
#6: Men seeking a long-term mate
will solve the problem of paternity
confidence

Men – need to be confident that their
offspring is theirs
Sexual vs. emotional jealousy

Most men – become more jealous and
angry if their mate had sex with another
man

Most women – become more jealous and
angry if their mate developed an emotional
attachment with another woman
#7: Women seeking a short-term
mate will prefer men willing to
import immediate resources
#8: Women will be more selective
than men in choosing a short-term
mate

Men: mate quantity

Women: mate quality
Body Symmetry

Honest signal for mate quality

Men and women with greater symmetry =
more sexual partners than those with
lesser symmetry
#9: Women seeking a long-term
mate will prefer men who can
provide resources for her offspring

Women seek successful, wealthy men

While men look at women as sex objects,
women look at men as success objects
(Buss, 1994)
Exaggerated male
characteristics

Hypermasculine look
– enhances
appearance of power,
resourcefulness,
success
Looks or resources?

Man’s looks are less
important to women


If man is ugly, can
compensate with
wealth
Ben Affleck or Bill
Gates with $80,
000,000,000?
Male WHR and Weight

Normal WHR and normal body-weight =
most attractive, healthy, and able to
provide and protect
Long-term mating strategies

As long-term relationships form, consider:
Personality
 Attitude
 Religion
 Sense of humor
 Compatibility, etc


Influenced by culture
Sexual orientation
differences
Emotional expressiveness

Among all four groups (heterosexual m, f,
homosexual m, f) = most common
preferred characteristic in mate . . .
Male interest in pornography

Both men and women = aroused by porn

But, men are more likely to purchase and
view porn

Plus, men are more sexually aroused at
nude women and genitals (than women
are of nude men and genitals)
Interest in pornography

Highest among all groups, except
heterosexual women
XXX
Importance of partner’s status

Highest among heterosexual women

Low importance among 3 other groups
Male’s interest in uncommitted
sex

Slightly higher for homosexual men than
heterosexual men

Homosexual men – report more sexual
partners than heterosexual men
Sexual or emotional jealousy?

Sexual jealousy – highest among
heterosexual men

Emotional jealousy – highest among
heterosexual women, and homosexual
women and men
Stereotyped gender of
homosexuals

Gay men: feminine mannerisms, interests,
and occupations (“femme”)

Lesbians: masculine mannerisms,
interests, occupation, haircut, clothing
(“butch”)

GAYDAR
Gender preference among
homosexuals

Gay men (especially masculine) – prefer
masculine men

Lesbians (masculine or feminine) – prefer
feminine women
Age preference

Homosexual and heterosexual men prefer
younger partners than homosexual and
heterosexual women

More masculine homosexual men and
women prefer younger partners than
more feminine homosexual men and
women
Age preference (evolution)

Male sex and masculine gender were
favored for younger (and hence more
fertile) mates = ensure male reproductive
success
Sexual orientation difference

Homosexual men – bipolar orientation
(either gay or straight)

Homosexual women –orientation along a
continuum
Social, cross-cultural, and
individual differences in
attractiveness
Social influence of beauty

Physical attractiveness is socially
reinforced

Attractive people: receive more affection,
success, popularity, and attention from the
opposite sex

Attractive people: regarded as more loved,
competent, healthy, confident, intelligent
Cross-cultural differences in
attractiveness

Regard people from other cultures as ugly

Each culture: own beauty fashions
Individual differences in
attractiveness

Each individual: unique tastes

“Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder”
CONCLUSION
Questions?