The effects of ovulatory cycle shifts in steroid hormones on women's mate preferences and attraction

Abstract

Do women’s mate preferences and attraction change across the ovulatory cycle? This is a central question in human evolutionary sciences. Psychological changes, especially shifting mate preferences, across the ovulatory cycle have long been seen as evidence that women’s mating psychology has been shaped by sexual selection (e.g. Buss & Schmitt, 2011). A large amount of studies have sought to investigate how women’s sexual interests, desire, mate preferences and behavior systematically change across the cycle, regulated by changes in steroid hormone levels. However, during the last years, there have been several large-scale failures to replicate effects that were formerly thought to be well-established. Hence, there is no clear consensual agreement about the existence of psychological and behavioral changes across women’s ovulatory cycle. This dissertation focuses on possible shifts in women’s mate attraction and preferences across the ovulatory cycle, that might be connected to changes in sexual desire and interest. The mediating role of steroid hormones and possible moderating variables, such as women’s relationship status and self-reported stress, will be addressed. To contribute to the actual scientific discourse in ovulatory cycle research, we conducted a large within-subject study to investigate three possible dimensions for which cycle shifts have previously been reported: masculine bodies, behaviors and voices. Findings are reported in three separate manuscripts. Although they can not conclusively answer if any mate preference changes across the cycle exist, they lead to important implications and directions for future research.