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Four strategies used during intrasexual competition for mates
Author(s) -
FISHER MARYANNE,
COX ANTHONY
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01307.x
Subject(s) - derogation , sexual selection , psychology , competition (biology) , social psychology , romance , promotion (chess) , developmental psychology , ecology , biology , politics , political science , psychoanalysis , law
Research on intrasexual competition for mates focused on the strategies of self‐promotion and competitor derogation. Although these strategies describe many competitive behaviors, it was predicted that they do not describe all possible strategies. In Study 1, a qualitative investigation, participants reported how they compete with same‐sex rivals for mates. This led to the discovery of the strategies of competitor manipulation and mate manipulation. All 4 strategies were compared and no sex difference in their frequency of application was found. In Study 2, a quantitative survey using the 4 strategies was created. There was no sex difference in strategy use, but those involved in a romantic relationship were significantly more likely to use competitor derogation than any other strategy.