Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Do Women Derogate Attractive Others as a Relationship Maintenance Strategy? Examining the Role of Commitment and Conception Risk

Smith, Nicholette Taylor
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3272-1868
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1429284610

Abstract Details

2015, Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, Psychology, General.
Women experience a change in mate preferences across the ovulatory cycle. At high conception risk when ovulation is likely, women prefer men who display cues of genetic fitness and therefore can ostensibly pass on the best genes to their offspring (Gangestad & Thornhill, 1998). This change in mate preferences during periods of high and low conception risk can be detrimental for long-term relationships. Women are more likely to engage in extrapair relationships during ovulation (Bellis & Baker, 1990) and they are more attracted to physically attractive alternative partners when they are ovulating, particularly when their partner is physically unattractive (Larson, Pillsworth, & Haselton, 2012). Research finds that compared to single men, attached men will derogate extrapair women when the extrapair women are ovulating (Miller & Maner, 2010). Evidence from the current study suggests that, similarly, women who are highly committed to their partners derogate physically attractive men at high conception risk. Results demonstrate that single women and women in a relationship did not rate photos of physically attractive men differently. However, own commitment and conception risk interacted such that women with high own commitment rated men less physically attractive at high conception risk compared to low conception risk. High perceived partner constraint commitment was associated with high ratings of the physically attractive alternative partner. The findings suggest that for women, own commitment is a more important factor than relationship status that motivates women to derogate physically attractive alternative partners. However, when women perceive their partner to be constrained to the relationship, women will be more open to seeking out physically attractive alternative options, following the dual-mating strategy (Pillsworth & Haselton, 2006). Findings are discussed in context of the contemporary relationship literature on evolutionary motivations in mate selection and relationship commitment.
Erin O'Mara (Committee Chair)
R. Matthew Montoya (Committee Member)
Lee Dixon (Committee Member)
90 p.
Psychology; Social Psychology
Romantic relationship, conception risk, attraction, commitment, ovulation, derogation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smith, N. T. (2015). Do Women Derogate Attractive Others as a Relationship Maintenance Strategy? Examining the Role of Commitment and Conception Risk [Master's thesis, University of Dayton]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1429284610

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smith, Nicholette. Do Women Derogate Attractive Others as a Relationship Maintenance Strategy? Examining the Role of Commitment and Conception Risk . 2015. University of Dayton, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1429284610.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smith, Nicholette. "Do Women Derogate Attractive Others as a Relationship Maintenance Strategy? Examining the Role of Commitment and Conception Risk ." Master's thesis, University of Dayton, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=dayton1429284610

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

dayton1429284610
858
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Dayton and OhioLINK.