Women’s Competition for Mates: Experimental Findings Leading to Ethological Studies


Theoretical Review

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Maryanne L. Fisher

Volume 30, No 1, Published March 30, 2015
DOI: https://…

 

KeywordsFemale intrasexual competition, ethology, indirect aggression, strategies.

 

ABSTRACT

There has been an explosion of survey-based and experimental work pertaining to women’s intrasexual competition for mates. Rather than extensively review this growing and vast body of literature, the goal of this paper is instead to call for ethological studies on this topic. I propose that, in general, non-ethological studies should cause us to question the reliability of findings, how frequently, and in what contexts competitive strategies are used. After a condensed overview of the evolutionary theory of female intrasexual competition, the paper is organized around three central problems that are faced by researchers who want to use an ethological approach. First, I will briefly review how female intrasexual competition involves multiple strategies that are often indirect or covert. Second, I will discuss how female intrasexual competition is dynamic, and changes depending on particular variables, such as hormonal status and audience. Third, I will argue that the context for examining competition matters, such that the reach of competitive views and attitudes is far wider than previously considered. I support this third point by presenting the results of a preliminary study where women appeared to engage in competition after merely being primed to think about potential threats to their romantic relationships.

 

ISSN: 2224-4476


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