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

Conservatives have a bias for seeing ideal one-night stands as long-term partners

by Eric W. Dolan
August 21, 2018
in Social Psychology
(Photo credit: Darren Baker)

(Photo credit: Darren Baker)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Stay on top of the latest psychology findings: Subscribe now!

More traditional, socially conservative people are more likely to view a sexy but unfaithful mate as being a suitable long-term partner. That’s the finding of a new study published in the scientific journal Evolution and Human Behavior.

“We know that people have slightly different priorities when choosing either a casual or a serious partner. For short relationships, people prefer partners who are attractive and sexy, as these people are more likely to have fit and healthy children,” explained study author Naomi K. Muggleton of the University of Warwick.

“For long relationships, however, people favour emotionally warm, high status partners who can offer material benefits to children. However, cultures differ in their tolerance of casual sex. We wanted to know whether people from conservative backgrounds are less likely to make the distinction between casual and serious relationships.”

In an initial study, 527 participants from India, the UK, and US were provided “Mate Dollars” that could be used to buy traits to construct their ideal short- and long-term partners. Those traits included: good income, industrious, ambitious, successful career, considerate, kind, caring, patient, good body, good looking, athletic and high sex drive.

The researchers found that socially conservative participants tended to have less distinctive preferences between short- and long-term partners. In other words, the short-term partners that conservatives constructed tended to resemble their long-term partners.

The short-term partners constructed by liberals, on the other hand, tended to focus on genetic traits like athleticism and good looks. Their long-term partners included more traits related to parenting and providing, such as being considerate and successful.

In a second study, 322 participants from India and the US read descriptions of two hypothetical partners. One partner was an ideal one-night stand — sexy but irresponsible and unfaithful. The other was an ideal spouse — of average attractiveness but a good parent and provider with a magnetic personality.

The researchers found that conservatives were more likely than liberals to want to seek a long-term commitment with the ideal one-night stand. Rather than indicating a personal preferences, conservatives believed that other people would similarly rate the ideal one-night stand as a suitable partner for a committed relationship.

“Liberals were better at differentiating between those sexy ‘good genes’ traits, which have the highest payoff in short relationships, and material, long-term traits,” Muggleton explained. “This suggests that people from conservative cultures, who avoid casual sex, are foregoing genetic benefits for their offspring. It also suggests that conservatives are more likely than liberals to project the idea of a committed relationship on someone who’s better suited to a short fling.”

The study has some limitations. In particular, the researchers examined ideal partners but not actual partners.

“We asked participants to describe their ideal relationships, which is similar to a shopping list,” Muggleton said. “But not everyone can attract a highly desirable partner, so may have to settle for someone who doesn’t tick all the boxes. It’d be interesting to compare our findings to people’s current and previous partners.”

The study, “You’re not my type: Do conservatives have a bias for seeing long-term mates?“, was authored by Naomi K. Muggleton and Corey L. Fincher.

TweetSendScanShareSendPin1ShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Gynandromorph research offers insight into the complexities of male sexual attraction
Sexism

Eye-tracking study shows people fixate longer on female aggressors than male ones

June 23, 2025

People pay more visual attention to female aggressors than male ones, but do not consistently judge their actions as more intentional or blameworthy, suggesting that female aggression is seen as unexpected rather than more morally significant.

Read moreDetails
Breakups can trigger trauma in emerging adults
Relationships and Sexual Health

Romantic breakups follow a two-stage decline that begins years before the split, study finds

June 23, 2025

A new study shows that romantic relationships often begin to unravel one to two years before they officially end. Researchers found a two-phase pattern of decline in satisfaction that could help identify when relationships are heading for a breakup.

Read moreDetails
It’s not digital illiteracy: Here’s why older adults are drawn to dubious news
Social Media

Believing “news will find me” is linked to sharing fake news, study finds

June 22, 2025

People who rely on social media to “stumble upon” news are more prone to spreading misinformation, according to a new longitudinal study.

Read moreDetails
Political ambivalence has a surprising relationship with support for violence
Authoritarianism

New study sheds light on the psychological roots of collective violence

June 21, 2025

A new study from Lebanon finds that people with authoritarian beliefs tend to oppose violence against political leaders, while those high in social dominance orientation are more likely to support violence against rival group members.

Read moreDetails
Scientists observe reduced emotional distress in children living near greenery
Racism and Discrimination

Adults’ beliefs about children and race shift when a child’s race is specified, study finds

June 21, 2025

Specifying a child’s race alters how adults perceive their awareness of race and racism, according to new research. Black children are viewed as less “color-evasive” and more racially aware at earlier ages than White children or generic “children.”

Read moreDetails
Study helps untangle the complicated relationship between psychopathy and emotional awareness
Psychopathy

Psychopathic individuals recognize unfairness but are less likely to punish it

June 21, 2025

A new study shows that individuals with higher psychopathic traits are less likely to punish unfair behavior, especially when it costs them personally. The research suggests self-interest, not a lack of moral understanding, drives their reluctance to enforce social norms.

Read moreDetails
The neuroscience of why we cry happy tears
Social Psychology

The neuroscience of why we cry happy tears

June 20, 2025

Why do people cry happy tears? Neuroscience suggests these emotional outbursts occur when the brain becomes overwhelmed by joy, nostalgia, or relief. Far from being irrational, crying during joyful moments helps restore balance and deepen human connection.

Read moreDetails
Epistemic mistrust and dogmatism predict preference for authoritarian-looking leaders
Authoritarianism

Epistemic mistrust and dogmatism predict preference for authoritarian-looking leaders

June 20, 2025

A new study suggests that the way people learn to trust others early in life can shape their political ideology and preference for strong, dominant leaders—though not directly, but through dogmatic thinking and broader political attitudes.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Exposure to heavy metals is associated with higher likelihood of ADHD diagnosis

Eye-tracking study shows people fixate longer on female aggressors than male ones

Romantic breakups follow a two-stage decline that begins years before the split, study finds

Believing “news will find me” is linked to sharing fake news, study finds

A common parasite not only invades the brain — it can also decapitate human sperm

Almost all unmarried pregant women say that the fetus resembles the father, study finds

New neuroscience research reveals brain antioxidant deficit in depression

Scientists uncover kidney-to-brain route for Parkinson’s-related protein spread

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

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

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy