EvoS Journal: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium
Volume 13, Special Issue 1, 2022
Title
Calibrated Functional Projection of Sexual Interest: A Speed-Dating Cosmetics Experiment
Author(s)
Bryan L. Koenig, John M. Savage, Patric J. Leukel, Laresa M. Coles, Alexia Daugaard, Garrett Brorby, & Carlota Batres.
Abstract
An evolutionary analysis suggests that people’s perceptions of potential mates’ sexual desires should be functionally correlated with their own level of sexual desire so as to moderate the likelihood of decision errors. Our research tests this possibility using experimental methods in a speed-dating context. We attempted to manipulate men’s level of sexual interest by having women wear different amounts of cosmetics. The final sample was 76 men and 92 women, with 459 dyadic interactions. Surprisingly, men did not have significantly greater sexual interest in women wearing more cosmetics as compared to women wearing less cosmetics. Men also did not think women wearing more cosmetics had greater sexual interest than women wearing less cosmetics. Despite not finding a cosmetics effect, the study replicates prior findings regarding perceptions of sexual interest. More specifically, men and women projected their own levels of sexual interest onto their dating partners.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59077/RWRV4017
How to cite this article:
Koenig, B. L., Savage, J. M., Leukel, P. J., Coles, L. M., Daugaard, A., Brorby, G., & Batres, C. (2023). Calibrated functional projection of sexual interest: A speed-dating cosmetics experiment. The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium, 13, Sp. Iss. (1), 1-15.
