Cognitive priming of sexual strategies.
Item
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Title
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Cognitive priming of sexual strategies.
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Identifier
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AAI9707139
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identifier
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9707139
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Creator
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Nussbaum, Alexander.
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Contributor
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Adviser: R. Glen Hass
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Date
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1996
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Experimental | Psychology, Social | Psychology, Cognitive
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Abstract
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An evolutionary theory of mating predicts that males and females possess different psychological mechanisms (resulting from their differential minimal parental investment, and potential reproductive rates) that lead to greater preference by males for short-term sexual relationships compared to females, and greater female selectiveness of sexual partners and resistance to utilizing short-term strategies.;There are, however, circumstances under which males are willing to employ long-term strategies, and females are willing to employ short-term strategies. The primary purpose of the present experiment was to investigate environmental contexts that affect the current interest of males and females in these two mating strategies.;The main hypotheses, which stemmed from an evolutionary theory of mating are as follows: (1) For males, if their preferred short-term strategy is made saliently unavailable, their interest in pursuing a long-term strategy will increase; and (2) if the likely success of short-term strategy is made salient, interest in long-term strategy will decrease. (3) For females, if a dominant male is made salient, their interest in short-term mating will increase (since a dominant male is a major factor in making short-term mating more profitable for females).;Participants in five priming conditions read a statement purportedly written by an opposite sex college student which conveyed either the student's: (1) availability for a short-term sexual relationship, (2) unavailability short-term, (3) availability for a long-term relationship, (4) unavailability long-term, or (5) interpersonal dominance. Participants in a control group did not receive a priming statement. All participants were then asked about their own willingness and eagerness to engage in short-term and long-term romantic relationships.;The results showed no appreciable support for the hypotheses concerning males. For female participants, as predicted, the Dominant Prime condition elicited the highest stated willingness for engaging in a brief sexual relationship. Unexpectedly the dominant prime decreased male participants' interest in a short-term relationship and eliminated the difference between male and female participants' reported willingness to engage in a short-term relationship. The theoretical and research implications of the effects of the Dominant Prime and the failure of the other primes to affect male participants are discussed.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
