Evolutionary Psychology, Workshop 11: Controllability of Mate Value.

Learning Outcomes. zAt the end of this session you should be able to: z1. Carry out a small survey concerning controllability of mate value using the questionnaire derived from Hamida et al., (1998). z2. Collate the results from the group and discuss the findings. z3. Discuss the predictions generated by the Hamida et al., article.

Background. zRecall that males and females may show distinct preferences for certain traits in their potential romantic partners, and these mate preferences do appear to translate into actual mate choice (e.g. Buss, 1989). zNatural selection will have favoured those individuals who try to improve their mate value, and the success of the cosmetic, clothing and physical fitness industries bears witness to this. zHamida et al., (1998) argued that the traits valued by males (physical attraction) are less controllable than the status-relevant characteristics valued by women (hard work, industriousness etc). zImproving one’s mate value may therefore involve differential emotional consequences for males and females

Sex Differences in Control Over Mate Value zMales have greater control over their traits because they generally involve investing time and effort in their profession and/or education, which are voluntary and can be improved. zMales investing in improving their physical characteristics, and females investing in improving their control of resources will not make much difference to their mate status. zFemales however have much less control over the traits that males find attractive (biological factors such as youthful-looking skin, waist-hip ratio etc). zThe greater uncontrollability of mate value for women may lead to increased frustration, helplessness, low self-esteem, negative affect and depression.

Predictions. zWe may thus predict that women’s attempts to improve their mate value will often result in failure (or the results will not be as good as they hoped). zThis lack of control may have important emotional consequences. zFurthermore, a woman may perceive such an uncontrollable process as: zStable (here to stay), zGlobal (it affects many bodily processes as well as other aspects of one’s life) zInternal (it is something that only the individual can control). zSuch attributions that can lead to maladaptive responses (helplessness and depression).

Testing the Predictions. zHamida et al., (1998) examined whether women perceive traits that men value as less controllable, compared with men’s perceptions of the controllability of the traits than women find attractive. z74 males and 76 females filled in two self-report questionnaires. zThe first asked them to rate the importance of 64 items in a long-term partner. zThe second questionnaire presented the same items, but the participants had to rate their perceived degree of personal control over these traits. zThey found the following:

Results from Hamida et al., (1998).  Males placed more emphasis on traits concerned with physical attraction and youth.  Women placed more emphasis on traits associated with social status, ambition, good job prospects and physical strength.  Women also placed greater emphasis on personality traits such as ‘sincere’, ‘kind’, ‘sensitive’, ‘generous’, and ‘sympathetic’.  Women felt that they had considerably less control over the traits that men placed greater emphasis on than men did over traits favoured by women.

Other Predictions.  Females who are in the peak reproductive years should be more concerned about their attractiveness.  Teenage girls who experience larger fluctuations in their physical appearance may be more prone to negative affect and low self-esteem if they perceive they lack control over these changes.  The high prevalence of eating disorders in gay men may reflect the fact that they place great value on youth, and physical attraction in their partners.  Males should experience correspondingly greater negative affect if they lose control over their ability to acquire resources (i.e. they become unemployed). Suicide amongst the male unemployed is indeed high.

Problems With the Study.  The self-report nature of the questionnaire, particularly regarding the controllability measure, as it is not clear whether people can accurately judge their ability to control various traits. For example, some thought that they could control personality traits, and yet probably cannot.  The importance of individual differences within sex was ignored. For example, not all women are equally vulnerable to the effects of their perceived inability to control certain physical attributes.  They did not actually measure helplessness, negative affect, or changes in self-esteem following the evaluation of uncontrollable traits.

Task. zGather data from 2 males and 2 females concerning perceptions of the controllability of mate value using the questionnaire devised by Hamida et al., (1998). zWe will collate the data and discuss the findings in relation to predictions generated by these authors.

Results From This Session.

References. zBuss, D.M. (1989). Sex differences in human mate preferences: evolutionary hypotheses tested in 37 cultures. Behavioural & Brain Sciences, 12: zHamida, S.B., Mineka, S., & Bailey, J.M. (1998). Sex differences in perceived controllability of mate value: an evolutionary perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75: