Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Summer 2016

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Experimental Psychology

Committee Chair

Kara Gabriel

Second Committee Member

Susan Lonborg

Third Committee Member

Tonya Buchanan

Abstract

The effects of character traits and socioeconomic status on mate selection for both heterosexual and homosexual individuals was studied. The current study recruited 347 Central Washington University students who ranked the importance of descriptive traits in a potential long-term mate, and also reported how willing they were to date a fictional potential mate in both a short-term and long-term context. Participants also described themselves in a dating profile scenario. The findings support the hypothesis that women are more interested in traits that signal resource acquisition and high socioeconomic status, and also support the hypothesis that men are more interested in traits that signal youth and physical attractiveness.

Language

English

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