The evolved psychology of mate preferences: Sexual desire underlies the prioritization of attractiveness in long-term partners

Abstract

Although existing evolutionary psychological research provides insight into the ultimate reproductive functions underlying long-term romantic partner preferences, such research has generally stopped short of identifying the proximate affective and motivational mechanisms that drive those preferences. Findings from three studies comprising four independent samples (total N = 2099) provide evidence that sexual desire is a proximate mechanism underlying prioritization of attractiveness in long-term partners. Sex differences and individual differences in sociosexuality were associated with prioritization of long-term partner attractiveness and those associations were statistically mediated by levels of chronic sexual desire (Study 1). Experimentally activating a state of high sexual desire increased males' and females' prioritization of attractiveness to an equivalent degree (Study 2). Experimentally reducing the relevance of sexual desire in people's mate preferences decreased prioritization of attractiveness in both males and females (Study 3). These studies integrate ultimate and proximate perspectives to provide novel insight into the role situationally activated motivational states play in shaping long-term partner preferences.