An evolutionary approach to individual differences in women's sexuality: The role of mate value.

Abstract

Mate value is defined as the degree to which an individual possesses the characteristics desired by the opposite sex. Most evolutionary theories about the role of mate value in explaining individual differences in women's sexuality have used a model whereby mate value is hypothesized to predict the sex-typical ideal mating strategy. Mate value, however, must act in concert with other sources of variation in sexual behavior. A large body of evidence suggests that the relationship between mate value and sexual strategy in women has yet to be understood. Empirical studies were designed to test two hypotheses: (1) higher mate value allows a woman the ability to follow her ideal mating strategy, not a sex typical ideal mating strategy, and (2) higher mate value acts not as a predictor of sexual strategy, but rather as a tool to optimize the benefits of mating via mating with high quality partners or under circumstances which have recurrently been linked with receiving benefits. While following one's ideal mating strategy and mating with desirable partners were significantly predicted by mate value, there was only a modest relationship between mate value and mating under conditions which have been recurrently linked with receiving benefits. Discussion focuses on the limitations of this study and future directions for the exploration of mate value and women's sexuality.