Do you want to hook up? Gender Differences in Short-Term Spousal Attraction Tactics

Wade, TJ, Fisher, ML, Salmon, C. et al. Want to hook up? Sex differences in short-term spousal attraction tactics. Evolutionary Psychology (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-021-00282-0

Commentary

This study was designed to determine which behaviors men and women use to solicit a short-term "hook-up" partner (Study 1) and then to investigate which of these behaviors are perceived to be most effective.

The researchers used sexual strategy theory and hypothesized that behaviors suggestive of sexual access would be nominated most frequently by women, whereas behaviors suggestive of willingness to commit would be expected to be nominated most frequently by men.

In addition, it was predicted that men and women would rate behaviors by men that suggest willingness to commit as most effective and behaviors by women that suggest sexual access as most effective.

The findings of the survey provided results consistent with these hypotheses. These explain in the context of both short- and long-term mating strategies and spousal recruitment.

Relationships between motivation, sexual strategies, and sexual behavior were examined, along with the need for research on the hook-up tactics, motivations of self-identifying gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals.