The Effect of Derogation Strategies Used by Females in Intrasexual Competition on Males' Mate Preferences

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of derogation strategies used by females in intrasexual competition on males' mate preferences. For this purpose, a total of four studies, one of them being a preliminary study, were conducted. In the preliminary study, a measurement tool including derogation strategies used by females in intrasexual competition was developed. The first study was conducted to examine which derogation strategies were used more frequently by females in intrasexual competition. Results showed that females used derogation strategies related to promiscuity and infidelity of their rivals more frequently than derogation strategies related to appearance of their rivals. The second study investigated the derogation strategies affecting males' decisions in mate preference. Findings showed that males were affected by derogation strategies including promiscuity and infidelity more than derogation strategies including appearance. The third study examined whether the results of the second study changed according to the relationship type (e.g., long term or short term) planned by males. The results of the multi-sample confirmatory factor analysis with mean structures indicated that there was no significant difference between long term and short term relationship groups for derogation strategies including promiscuity and infidelity. However, findings yielded a significant difference between the two groups in terms of derogation strategies including appearance; males in short term relationship group were affected by derogation strategies including appearance more than the males in long term relationship group.