Glamour of selectivity
A new study from Northwestern University has found that selectivity in a partner is sexy. The researchers organized seven speed-dating sessions of a total 156 undergrads, who took part in four-minute speed dates with 9-13 people of the opposite sex. A short questionnaire followed each date with questions "did you like your partner" and "were you sexually attracted." Later, thru the study website, participants put down whom they would like to meet again, with double-matches given the ability to contact each other. The result, those who only picked a few people had a much higher probability of a double-match than those with checkmarks across the board. "Potential partners who seem undiscriminating are a definite turnoff, and those who evoke the magic of feeling special are a big draw," said Paul W. Eastwick, psych grad student and author of the study, while Prof. Eli J. Finkel clarifies: "People who like everyone, unlike in a friendship context where they generally are liked in return, may exude desperation in a romantic context." This study is interesting in a social context, as it explains some of the motivations behind our need for individuality and uniqueness, as well as supporting that evolution tends towards diversity even in sexual selection. So, instead of giving twelve people a single rose each this Valentine’s Day, better off to risk the whole dozen on one. It might just be that extra edge.
Selectivity is ultimate aphrodisiac, Northwestern.edu
Selectivity in speed dating podcast
This is interesting… but couldn’t it go the other way? Couldn’t it be that people who are more sexually attractive are more selective because they have a greater ability to choose? Isn’t this sort of like looking at the fact that wealthy people eat fresher, more expensive fruits and vegetables and concluding that eating fresh, expensive produce leads to wealth? It seems like a foregone conclusion that unattractive people will have lower standards by necessity — beggars can’t be choosers, and all.
Comment by joshua — February 13, 2007 @ 10:22 pm
that’s some fine critical thinking. true, it would have been better if participants were also ranked and/or grouped according to their attractiveness, and you’re probably right that pretty people are more selective because they can afford to be. however, most people tend to fall in the middle of the spectrum, where i think their degree of selectivity becomes a factor. i mean, given the choice between to people of equal physical beauty, say, in a bar, would you prefer the one who’s been flirting with everyone or the one who only came up to you?
Comment by alexei — February 14, 2007 @ 4:48 pm