Promiscuity is related to masculine and feminine body traits in both men and women: evidence from Brazilian and Czech samples
Language English Country Netherlands Media print-electronic
Document type Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
25093932
DOI
10.1016/j.beproc.2014.07.010
PII: S0376-6357(14)00157-0
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- Conditional strategies, Individual differences, Masculinity, Promiscuity, Sexual dimorphism, Sociosexuality,
- MeSH
- Coitus physiology psychology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Sex Characteristics * MeSH
- Attitude MeSH
- Sexual Behavior physiology psychology MeSH
- Hand Strength physiology MeSH
- Body Size physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
- Geographicals
- Brazil MeSH
- Czech Republic MeSH
One of the possible explanations for human within-sex variation in promiscuity stems from conditional strategies dependent on the level of body sex-dimorphism. There is some evidence that masculine men and feminine women are more promiscuous than their sex-atypical counterparts, although mixed results persist. Moreover, another line of evidence shows that more promiscuous women are rather sex-atypical. We tested whether diverse sex-dimorphic body measures (2D:4D, WHR/WSR, handgrip strength, and height and weight) influence sociosexual desires, attitudes, promiscuous behavior, and age of first intercourse in a sex-typical or sex-atypical direction. Participants were 185 young adults, 51 men and 54 women from Brazil, and 40 men and 40 women from the Czech Republic. In men stronger handgrip and more feminine 2D:4D predicted higher sociosexual behaviors, desires, and lower age of the first sexual intercourse. While in women, sociosexual desires were predicted by lower handgrip strength and more feminine 2D:4D. It thus seems that it is rather a mixture of masculine and feminine traits in men, and feminine traits in women that increase their sociosexuality. Masculine traits (height) predicting female promiscuous behavior were specific for only one population. In conclusion, a mosaic combination of sex-typical but also sex-atypical independent body traits can lead to higher promiscuity, particularly in men. Limitations, implications, and future directions for research are considered. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Neotropical Behaviour.
References provided by Crossref.org
Redheaded women are more sexually active than other women, but it is probably due to their suitors