Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Social Psychology

Longitudinal data suggests physically aggressive men tend to have more sex partners

by Eric W. Dolan
January 17, 2021
in Social Psychology

[Subscribe to PsyPost on YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience]

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Men who report engaging in more physical violence tend to also report having more sex partners, according to new research. The study suggests that physically aggressive behavior continues to benefit the mating success of men.

“The study sought to address whether physically aggressive behavior still has sex appeal, as it likely once did for our ancestors, or whether given societal changes which reward intelligence over brute strength, that people’s intellectual ability might be a better predictor of mating success than aggressive behavior,” said study author Patrick Seffrin, an associate professor at Marywood University.

“Intelligence and violence are negatively correlated in the population so we thought it would be interesting to know how these two individual factors interact in relation to mating success. We also wanted to know whether men and women differed in how aggressive behavior and intelligence interact to affect mating success. Prior research suggests that while intelligence is attractive to both sexes, aggressive behavior in men would be favored by women but not by men who are seeking female partners.”

The researchers analyzed longitudinal data from 5,636 men and 6,787 women who had participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally-representative survey that collected information from 1994 to 2009. As part of the study, participants completed a test of verbal intelligence and also filled out questionnaires regarding violent/criminal behavior and their sex life.

After controlling for physical attractiveness, general health, and other factors, the researchers found that violent behavior was significantly and positively associated with the number of sex partners among men but not women. “Results for men indicated that for a unit increase in violence between waves, there was an 8% increase in the number of sex partners reported from previous waves,” the researchers wrote.

Increasing levels of education were also longitudinally associated with increases in men’s number of sex partners. But this was not the case for verbal intelligence and good grades in high school.

The “findings suggest that women still find physically aggressive behavior sexually appealing and that the sex appeal of intelligence seems to depend on the physical aggressiveness of men,” Seffrin told PsyPost.

“So, despite the status rewards that come along with having high intelligence in a modern industrial society, aggressive men continue to be rewarded with greater mating success when compared to their less aggressive male peers who have comparable levels of intelligence and physical beauty.”

However, the study includes a few caveats.

“We made heteronormative assumptions about study participants, which might not apply to LGBTQ populations. Although we did control statistically for sexual orientation, future research will need to conduct similar analyses on samples of LGBTQ individuals,” Seffrin explained.

“What exactly is sexually appealing about intelligence or aggressive behavior is still in debate. Statistical data thus far have been unable to address the issue, so the question remains in the theoretical realm.”

The study, “Brains, brawn, and beauty: The complementary roles of intelligence and physical aggression in attracting sexual partners“, was authored by Patrick Seffrin and Patricia Ingulli.

ShareTweetSendScanShareSharePin2Send

NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

STAY CONNECTED

TRENDING

One in four people may experience estrangement from a sibling in adulthood, study finds

Buzzing the brain with electricity can boost the willingness to engage in mental effort

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

Study finds that poor sleep quality increases aggression, possibly by affecting emotional cognition

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

A history of intermittent fasting is associated with increased disordered eating behaviors

RECENT

Two “dark” personality traits help explain the link between childhood adversity and suicide risk

People are more inclined to get COVID-19 booster after reading tweets that target regret, study finds

Study links deviations in circadian rhythm patterns to psychiatric problems in adolescents

False confidence: Watching a simple video increases people’s belief in their own ability to land a plane

A history of intermittent fasting is associated with increased disordered eating behaviors

Psychologists developed a new measure of sexual anxiety sensitivity. It predicts some important sex-related outcomes.

Virtual reality can inoculate people against the allure of alternative romantic partners, study finds

Buzzing the brain with electricity can boost the willingness to engage in mental effort

Currently Playing

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Disclosing victim status reduces online dating matches regardless of race or sex

Individuals with dark personality traits are less oriented towards long-term mating strategies

Dark Triad
Longitudinal study examines the effects of adversity on wise reasoning

New study examines the psychological mechanisms underlying Solomon’s paradox

Social Psychology
Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Engaging in religious practice, even if you don’t believe, may increase your capacity to delay gratification

Cognitive Science
New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

New study sheds light on how three distinct types of first impressions predict subsequent dating outcomes

Relationships and Sexual Health
A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

A single, moderate dose of psilocybin reduces depressive symptoms for at least two weeks, controlled study finds

Depression
Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Study identifies factors that influence the link between men’s body esteem and their ability to enjoy their sexuality

Mental Health
  • Cognitive Science
  • COVID-19
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Drug Research
  • Conspiracy Theories
  • Meditation
  • Psychology of Religion
  • Aviation Psychology and Human Factors
  • Relationships and Sexual Health
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Psychedelic Drugs
  • Dark Triad
  • Political Psychology

About

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society. (READ MORE...)

  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • About PsyPost
    • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.