Attractive Women Want It All: Good Genes, Economic Investment,

Parenting Proclivities, and Emotional Commitment

By: Jennifer Busico, Renee Egizi, Laura Jimenez

Buss, D. M. (2008). Attractive Women Want It All: Good Genes, Economic Investment, Parenting Proclivities, and Emotional Commitment. Evolutionary Psychology , 6(1) , 134-146.

• Women Preferences for long term and short term relationships

• Women can’t have it all • Often trade-off: Good gene fitness and Good

investment• 4 clusters of qualities for long term mate–Good genes–Good resources–Good parenting–Good partner

Introduction

Women high in mate value, compared to those lower in mate value, should impose higher standards for a suite of desirable characteristics

Hypothesis

214 participants (107 males & females) Criteria: married less than 1 year Public Record of Marriage Licenses in

Midwest Participants given $25 Mean Ages: men-25.46, females-24.78

Methods

3 assessments ◦ At home questionnaire, female rate physical

attractiveness of self◦ Laboratory questionnaires

Factors in Choosing a Mate Preferences Concerning Potential Mates Family and Marital Preference Goals Wanted in a Partner

◦ Interview

Procedure

Positive correlation between high female attractiveness and the 4 cluster of qualities ◦ Female attractiveness was not a factor in

determining male Intelligence No correlation between male attractiveness

and the 4 cluster of qualities ◦ Males love all women

Results

High attractive females require higher attractive standards

Limitations:◦ Sample consisted of only married individuals◦ Participants from a single culture◦ Do women actually obtain a man who “has it all”◦ Look into the invariability for preference of male

intelligence

Discussion

• Pros– Thorough in examination (initial assessment at home, 4

questionnaires in laboratory, final interview)– Focused on young contemporary women (24 years-old)– Confidentiality assurance– Layout of journal (clear and precise)

•  Cons – No random selection– Small sample (107 males/females) can’t generalize – Participants belief in mate containing 4 cluster of qualities is

contradicting (no man has it all)– Did not provide sample of questionnaires – Did not go in depth regarding the non-present correlation of males– Defining of terms ambiguous – No in-depth analysis; simply stating results – No analysis on less attractive women

Critical Review

1) True or False: Based on this study, do high attractive females adjust their preferences for male qualities?

2) True or False: Males do not have a preference for female attractiveness?3) True or False: There is a difference between low and high attractive female’s

preferences on male intelligence? 4) Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Male preference?

a. A loving partnerb. A housec. A heterosexual d. Social Status

5) How long had the participants been married?a. 1 yearb. Newlywedsc. 5 yearsd. 2 years

6) How many assessment(s) did the participants encounter during the experiment?a. 7 b. 1c. 3d. 4

Test Questions