Mate Scarcity Effects on Women’s Wariness of Other Women

EvoS Journal: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium
Volume 10, Special Issue 1, 2018

Title
Mate Scarcity Effects on Women’s Wariness of Other Women

Author(s)
Vukovic, J., Jean-Bart, R., Branson, D., Zephir, J., & Wright, A.

Abstract
Previous studies have found that the scarcity of potential mates in the environment may influence mate-choice relevant behaviors, including intrasexual competition. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between the scarcity of Black men and women’s perceptions of other women (i.e., potential competitors). Since Black men are factually scarce in Broward County, we predicted that women who believe that Black men are scarce may hold less favorable opinions of other women (i.e., potential competitors). We interpreted attitudes of wariness toward other women as likely proxies to intrasexual competition. Our results show that women who believe that desirable mates are hard to come by, tend to be warier of women in general. We also found a negative correlation between wariness of women and reported number of good female friends. These results are consistent with previous findings suggesting heightened intrasexual competition when competition for desirable mates is high due to a sex ratio imbalance.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.59077/PZPY5115

How to cite this article:
Vukovic, J., Jean-Bart, R., Branson, D., Zephir, J., & Wright, A. (2019). Mate scarcity effects on women’s wariness of other women. The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium10, Sp. Iss. (1), 49-66.

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