Attractive men's desirability as a long-term partner varies with ascribed excitement values

Abstract

Values guide behaviors and cognitively represent needs. Expressed values may provide relevant cues that affect mate selection. In particular, individuals endorsing excitement values (e.g., emotion, pleasure, sexuality) are more likely to commit infidelity. Therefore, a person's desirability as a long-term partner may be negatively affected by that person's endorsement of excitement values. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a 2 (sex) × 2 (ascribed values) × 2 (facial attractiveness) factorial design experiment. Participants were 80 individuals, aged between 17 and 48 years (M=24.1, SD=5.61), mostly heterosexual (93.8%). Participants rated how desirable the person depicted in the factorial scenarios is as a long-termpartner, on a 6-point Likert scale (undesirable–very desirable). Attractive men's desirability as a long-term partner decreased when associated with excitement values, providing some support for evolutionarily informed hypotheses. We discuss results in light of evolutionary hypotheses of mate selection, highlighting limitations and identifying directions for future research.