TY - JOUR
T1 - Does beauty catch the eye?: Sex differences in gazing at attractive opposite-sex targets
AU - van Straaten, I.
AU - Holland, R.
AU - Finkenauer, C.
AU - Hollenstein, T.
AU - Engels, R.C.M.E.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - We investigated to what extent the length of people's gazes during conversations with opposite-sex persons is affected by the physical attractiveness of the partner. Single participants (N = 115) conversed for 5 min with confederates who were rated either as low or high on physical attractiveness. From a mating strategy perspective, we hypothesized that men's increased dating desire towards highly attractive confederates would lead to longer periods of gazing, whereas women's gazing would be less influenced by their dating desire towards highly attractive confederates. Results confirmed our hypothesis, with significantly increased gazing for men in the high attractiveness condition but no significant differences in women in the two attractiveness conditions. Contrary to past research findings, there was no significant sex difference in the size of the effect of physical attractiveness on dating desire. The results were discussed in terms of preference for physically attractive partners and communication strategies during courtship. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
AB - We investigated to what extent the length of people's gazes during conversations with opposite-sex persons is affected by the physical attractiveness of the partner. Single participants (N = 115) conversed for 5 min with confederates who were rated either as low or high on physical attractiveness. From a mating strategy perspective, we hypothesized that men's increased dating desire towards highly attractive confederates would lead to longer periods of gazing, whereas women's gazing would be less influenced by their dating desire towards highly attractive confederates. Results confirmed our hypothesis, with significantly increased gazing for men in the high attractiveness condition but no significant differences in women in the two attractiveness conditions. Contrary to past research findings, there was no significant sex difference in the size of the effect of physical attractiveness on dating desire. The results were discussed in terms of preference for physically attractive partners and communication strategies during courtship. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/77957753509
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77957753509&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10508-009-9482-x
DO - 10.1007/s10508-009-9482-x
M3 - Article
SN - 0004-0002
VL - 39
SP - 1055
EP - 1062
JO - Archives of Sexual Behavior
JF - Archives of Sexual Behavior
ER -
