Abstract
Individuals perform mate retention behaviors to minimize the risk of partner infidelity and relationship dissolution. The current study investigates whether consideration of cosmetic surgery can be conceptualized as part of a broader strategy of mate retention for women, but not men. We hypothesized that women’s consideration of cosmetic surgery would be positively associated with performance frequencies of Benefit-Provisioning and Cost-Inflicting mate retention behaviors. We recruited 203 individuals (54% women) in committed heterosexual relationships from Tehran, Iran. Results indicate a positive association between consideration of cosmetic surgery and Benefit-Provisioning mate retention behaviors for women, but not men. There was no association between consideration of cosmetic surgery and Cost-Inflicting mate retention behaviors. Women therefore may consider cosmetic surgery to improve their physical attractiveness as part of a Benefit-Provisioning strategy to retain a long-term mate. We discuss limitations of the study and highlight future directions for research from an evolutionary perspective.
Highlights
Partner infidelity is a considerable threat to romantic relationships, and is associated with a greater likelihood of relationship dissolution (Allen and Atkins, 2012)
The current study examines whether women’s, but not men’s, consideration of cosmetic surgery is associated with mate retention behaviors
The current study examined whether women’s, but not men’s, consideration of cosmetic surgery is associated with BenefitProvisioning and Cost-Inflicting mate retention
Summary
Partner infidelity is a considerable threat to romantic relationships, and is associated with a greater likelihood of relationship dissolution (Allen and Atkins, 2012). A man whose partner commits sexual infidelity is at risk for cuckoldry—investing resources into genetically unrelated offspring. A woman whose partner commits emotional infidelity is at risk for losing partner-provisioned resources for her and her offspring. Men and women use a variety of strategies to reduce the risk of partner infidelity, and to maintain their long-term romantic relationships (Buss, 1988; Barbaro et al, 2015). Men and women perform mate retention behaviors to reduce the likelihood of their partner’s infidelity or relationship dissolution (Buss, 1988). Benefit-Provisioning mate retention includes behaviors that reduce the likelihood of partner infidelity by increasing relationship
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