Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2014
School
Psychology
Abstract
Two studies tested whether people feel threatened by another individual verbally complimenting their romantic partner. Such compliments may indicate that the other person is a potential rival who will try to "poach" their mate. Across two studies, women were more threatened than men when imagining another person complimenting their partner's physical appearance. There were no sex differences in response to imagining another person complimenting their partner's sense of humor. When another person compliments one's partner's physical appearance, this indicates that they may be sexually attracted to the partner. Mediation analyses revealed that the sex difference occurs because women believe men are more open to casual sex, and therefore more vulnerable to mate poaching when another person expresses sexual interest in them.
Publication Title
Evolutionary psychology : an international journal of evolutionary approaches to psychology and behavior
Volume
12
Issue
4
First Page
736
Last Page
756
Recommended Citation
Brown, C.,
Daniels, E.,
Lustgraaf, C.,
Sacco, D. F.
(2014). Verbal Compliments As a Differential Source of Mate Poaching Threat For Men and Women. Evolutionary psychology : an international journal of evolutionary approaches to psychology and behavior, 12(4), 736-756.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/19872