New Danish study on mating strategies of women and men
In June 2009 a number of research assistants (confederates) were told to approach somebody who they could imagine they would go on a date with/invite home/go to bed with. The research assistants would approach the stranger of the opposite gender using the following standard introduction; “Hi, my name is ‘name of the confederate’. I am sorry to disturb you like this, but I have been noticing you around and find you very attractive”. The research assistant would then ask one of the following questions: “Would you go on a date with me tonight or during the week/weekend?”, “Would you come over to my place tonight or during the week/weekend?”, or “Would you go to bed with me tonight or during the week/weekend?”
In total, 389 respondents from the four largest cities of Denmark (Copenhagen, Aarhus, Aalborg, and Odense) were included in the experiment.
New Danish study on mating strategies of women and men
Men more willing to accept sex with strangers
Men tend to agree to sexual invitations from strangers of the opposite gender more readily than women do. In particular, men more often accept the two explicit requests to have sex; a significantly larger number of men than women accepted an invitation to ”come to my place” and ”go to bed with me”. No distinct differences were found between the two sexes in regard to replies to the request to ”go on a date with me”.
New Danish study on mating strategies of women and men
Looks are more important to women
Hald and Høgh-Olesen investigated whether looks seem to matter for acceptance of sex with a stranger. As hypothesized, the study confirms that looks seem to have some importance for women in choice of partner – even for just a short-term partner. ”We were not surprised to find that looks are more important to women than to men. In particular, women tend to find looks more important for ‘random sex’ than men. This is probably related to reproduction”, says Henrik Høgh-Olesen.
New Danish study on mating strategies of women and men
Singles more willing to accept sex with stranger
The study showed that respondents who were not in a relationship were more willing to consent to have sex with a stranger than respondents with a partner. This result was found for both men and women. Male subjects who were not in a relationship were 20 times more likely to consent to one of the sexual invitations compared with male subjects in a relationship. Single women were more than 8 times more likely to consent to a sexual invitation, compared with women in a relationship.
New Danish study on mating strategies of women and men
Unknown factors
One of the reasons for womens’ rejection of sex with a stranger could be fear of crime. ”If the woman was allowed to take measure of the guy in a safe environment before being alone with him, the success rate for men may have been higher”, says Gert Martin Hald.
Here’s some further analysis:
Sexual Receptivity Invitations from the Strangers of the Opposite Gender
Researchers conducted the experiment twice, in 1978 and 1982, with the help of students of Florida State University. In both cases, five students and four students aged around 22 years on the campus of the University addressed a total of 48 men and 48 women.The conversation looked like this: “Several times I saw you here / a. You seem very attractive / ý.” Then researchers put unsuspecting respondents randomly selected question from these three options: “Do you want me to go out tonight?” - “Do you want the evening to come to my apartment?” - “Want to go to bed with me?”
Clark and Hatfield formulated before the start of the experiment two hypotheses. The first, traditional, they agree to offer men more than women. The second, androgynous, not the behavior of both sexes differ fundamentally. The results support the assumption dramatically gender differences in affection undergo random sexual adventure. Men willing to approach to any type of menu in the first study of 65% to 21% in the second and 63% to 17%. Expressed in detail the research fell as follows:
It is almost inconceivable that men were more likely to go with a foreign woman on a date, or home to bed with increasing levels of intimacy. While in case of an invitation to the meeting were gender differences at all, or nearly significant, in other instances dramatically began to show and offer anonymous sex has not even approached one of 96 women! The study results therefore confirm the stereotypical images of males and indiscriminate vybíravých female, although this finding can be interpreted by two opposing theories. According to biological determinism contemporary sociobiology is interested in sexual activities designed genetics, anatomy and sexual dimorphic hormones. In contrast, contemporary social determinism of Social Sciences argued that patterns of sexual behavior are primarily influenced by culture, social conditioning and enrolled roles. The authors say that the explanation is likely, although admit to liking sociobiologickému (see Clark & Hatfield 2003).
Mentioned research initially came to the misunderstanding, criticism and rejection of the methodology of the Gender Studies. Yet over time become a classic, as witnessed by the still continuing interest in him. Danish researchers Hald and Høgh-Olesen published the November issue of the journal Evolution and Human Behavior article that confirms the original findings and expands. The experiment was conducted on a sample of this time 173 men and 216 women, a volunteer interviewers were also more than that – 10 men and 11 women. The results are so compelling as ever, for which perhaps the increasing liberalization of female sexual behavior or increased vigilance associated with the expansion of AIDS.
Hald and Høgh-Olesen asked respondents additional questions and found that men – unlike women – played a role too attractive tazatelek. In addition, confirm the hypothesis that both sexes have been affected by the momentary state of the partner, because the participants in respect of more refusing all kinds of offers. Even among men there was a significantly higher willingness to cheat on their partners with anonymous women, as is evident from the last table:
Danish researchers this time no qualms about applying for an explanation of gender differences and evolutionary psychology as their main reason for identifying the theory of parental investment . Women are evolutionarily adapted to be cautious when choosing a partner because of their potential investment in pregnancy and parenthood is much higher than for a random partner. If the offer proceeds, only if exceptionally attractive men, strictly in accordance with the theory of good genes . In men’s motivation is completely different, because almost anonymous sex risk nothing and conversely increasing their potential reproductive success. It seems that even fifty years since the discovery of hormonal contraception have not eliminated these differences, even if it leads to its gradual weakening.
