Sociosexuality Research Articles

Reliability and Validity of the Colombian Version of the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory

Sociosexuality refers to an individual’s disposition to have casual sex without establishing affective bonds and has been widely studied worldwide using the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R; Penke & Asendorpf, 2008). Despite its many validations in different cultural contexts, no psychometric analyses of this instrument have been conducted in Spanish-speaking Latin American countries. To address this gap in the literature, we examined the psychometric properties of the SOI-R in Colombia. In a cross-sectional study with a large sample of participants (N = 812; 64% women), we conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to identify different factor structures and determine which had the best fit for our sample and examined the reliability of the scale. Results showed that a three-factor structure, with sociosexual behaviors, attitudes, and desire as first-order factors, and global sociosexuality as a second-order factor, had the best fit indexes. Each factor presented good reliability indexes. Replicating already established gender differences, we also found that men scored higher on each factor when compared to women. These findings show that the SOI-R is a reliable and valid instrument to assess sociosexuality in countries where sociosexuality research is underrepresented.

Disgust sensitivity predicts sociosexuality across cultures

Restricted sociosexuality has been linked to sexual disgust, suggesting that decreasing sexual behavior may be a pathogen avoidance technique. Using the behavioral immune system framework, which posits that humans experience disgust after exposure to pathogen cues, we replicate and expand on previous studies by analyzing the influence of three domains of disgust (sexual, moral, pathogen) on psychological (desire and attitude) and behavioral domains of sociosexuality (SOI) in four diverse samples: American university students (n = 155), Salvadoran community members (n = 98), a global online sample (n = 359), and a four-country online sample (US, India, Italy, and Brazil; n = 822) collected during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In contrast with previous studies, we account for shared variance in sexual, pathogen, and moral disgust by entering all three in a multiple regression to predict composite SOI. In both large samples, sexual disgust and pathogen disgust had opposing effects on composite SOI; that is, higher sexual disgust and lower pathogen disgust were associated with more restricted composite SOI. Additionally, we constructed a multi-group structural equation model (SEM) to determine the impact of each domain of disgust on each domain of SOI across all our samples simultaneously, while controlling for age and sex. Within this model we also assessed how the psychological domains of SOI – attitude and desire – mediate the relationship between disgust and sociosexual behavior. Pathogen disgust positively predicted SOI attitude and desire, but not behavior, consistently across all groups. SOI behavior was only predicted by pathogen disgust when mediated by SOI attitude, again across all groups, suggesting that behavior seems to be driven largely by the psychological facets of SOI. We discuss these findings in light of the behavioral immune system and the bet-hedging hypothesis, which make opposing predictions on the relationship between infection risk and sexual behavior.

Why Hungarians Have Sex: Development and Validation of a Brief 15-Item Instrument (YSEX?-15H)

The present study developed a brief version of the Hungarian Why Sex? questionnaire (Meskó et al., 2022). The study was in part based on previously reported data obtained from several samples (N = 6193; 1976 men, 4217 women). Using Mokken Scaling Procedure, Item Response Model and redundancy analysis indicated that retaining three summary scales comprising five items each was the optimal solution for the brief version. The validity of the brief scale was tested with the Sexual System Functioning Scale (SSFS), the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale–Short Form (ECR-S) and, the Hungarian version of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ-H; n = 297, 127 men, 170 women). In addition, correlations between the long and brief versions of YSEX? with sociosexual orientation (SOI-R) and the five-factor personality construct (BFI-S) were compared (n = 1024, 578 women, 446 men). The results suggest that the three summary scales of the Hungarian 15-item Form of the Why Sex Questionnaire (YSEX?-15H) provide reliable and valid measures of the previously affirmed three broad sexual motives (Personal Goal Attainment, Relational Reasons, Sex as Coping). The Relational Reasons summary scale was associated with secure emotional and sexual attachment. The Personal Goal Attainment and Sex as Coping summary scales showed coherent patterns of associations with the emotional and sexual aspects of secondary attachment strategies (over- and under-functioning). The YSEX?-15H offers both researchers and practitioners a concise and useful instrument for the assessment of sexual motivation.

The relationship between sociosexual orientation, muscle performance and disgust sensitivity: a preliminary correlational study.

Sociosexual orientation (SO), muscle performance (MP), and disgust sensitivity (DS) play a crucial role in sexual life. Previous research reported a relationship between SO and muscle strength, but the association across these variables has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between SO, MP, and DS. Seventy-two subjects (age: 49.7±13.7 years, 38 F) participated in the study. The SO, MP and DS were evaluated using a Sexual Attitude Scale (SAS), a revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), a body composition analysis, handgrip test (HG), a Standing Long Jump Test (SLJ), a Body Odor Disgust Scale (BODS) and Three Domains of Disgust Scale (TDDS). A strong evidence in favor of a positive association between SO and MP (r=0.52, BF<inf>10=</inf>29), inconclusive evidence for a negative correlation between SO and DS (r=-0.37, BF<inf>10</inf>=2) and moderate evidence in favor of the absence of a relationship between MP and DS (r=0.001, BF<inf>01</inf>=5) was found using a Bayesian hypothesis testing approach (Bayes Factor). Higher MP is associated with a greater tendency to have occasional relationships and multiple sexual partners, in both genders. MP-related self-esteem and perceived vulnerability may be involved in mating behaviors. We speculate that the sexual hormones might mediate the relationship among these variables. Future studies are warranted to explore this hypothesis.

Prevalence and predictors of “nesting”: Solutions to adaptive challenges faced during pregnancy

Throughout human evolutionary history, women have faced significant adaptive challenges during pregnancy. Natural selection may therefore have favored psychological mechanisms to help women prepare for birth and motherhood. Previous researchers have conceptualized such mechanisms as comprising a form of “nesting,” consisting of selectivity in one's social relationships and motivations to prepare a safe and clean environment, both of which may have been beneficial in the context of childbirth and childrearing. The current study aimed to replicate and extend previous evidence for nesting (Anderson & Rutherford, 2013). Consistent with prior work, results suggest that pregnant women ( n = 91) engaged in more nesting than non-pregnant women ( n = 102), and that degree of nesting increased across weeks of gestation. Among pregnant women, high levels of germ aversion and having relatively high socioeconomic status were both associated with heightened nesting. A number of other theoretically relevant variables (e.g., progesterone, oxidative stress, sociosexual orientation) displayed null associations with nesting. Findings strengthen support for the hypothesis that nesting is a pervasive phenomenon among pregnant women and provide new insight into predictors of nesting.

“Fast” women? The effects of childhood environments on women's developmental timing, mating strategies, and reproductive outcomes

The fast-slow paradigm of life history theory has been a popular approach to individual differences in the evolutionary behavioral sciences. Currently, however, the fast-slow paradigm faces several theoretical and empirical challenges. Motivated by questions regarding the validity of certain assumptions of the paradigm, the current study provides an empirical investigation of human female “fast” versus “slow” strategies. In a sample of 1867 women recruited using MTurk, we use structural equation modeling (SEM) to test whether childhood exposure to different environmental variables had unique effects on proposed life history traits, whether mediated by—or independent of—pubertal timing. Models also test whether the proposed life history traits covary with one another as expected by the paradigm. Data reveal that exposure to violence and poor health in particular, but not environmental harshness or unpredictability in general, had significant effects on pubertal timing. Pubertal timing appeared to mediate effects of childhood environments on age at sexual debut, but not any other adult outcome (e.g., sociosexual orientations, reproductive outcomes). Some associations with mating strategies were incompatible with assumptions of the prevailing fast-slow paradigm; for instance, greater short-term mating orientation was positively associated with childhood socioeconomic status and negatively associated with offspring number. These results highlight the need for a new or revised theoretical approach to understanding developmental, mating, and reproductive strategies.

Pupil Size Predicts Partner Choices in Online Dating

People's choices for specific romantic partners can have far reaching consequences, but very little is known about the process of partner selection. In the current study, we tested whether a measure of physiological arousal, pupillometry (i.e., changes in pupil size), can predict partner choices in an online dating setting. A total of 239 heterosexual participants took part in an online dating task in which they accepted or rejected hypothetical potential partners, while pupil size response was registered using an eye tracker. In line with our main hypothesis, the results indicated a positive association between pupil size and partner acceptance. This association was not found to depend on relationship status, relationship quality, gender, or sociosexual orientation. These findings show that the body (i.e., the pupils) provides an automatic cue of whether a potential partner will be selected as a mate, or rejected.

Sociosexual Orientations and Well-Being: Differences Across Gender

Background Sociosexuality explains whether people hold an (un)restricted orientation toward casual sex, and its effects on well-being are inconclusive. This study investigates how specifically the facets of sociosexuality relate to three components of well-being in men and women. Methods: Self-report measures of sociosexuality and well-being were assessed in 556 Polish adults. Results: Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis revealed differences in sociosexual attitudes and desire across gender. Structural equation models showed significant results only for men—emotional and psychological well-being were positively predicted by sociosexual behavior and negatively predicted by desire. Conclusions: Sociosexuality predicted well-being differently across gender.

Perceptions of Sexual Images: Factors Influencing Responses to the Ubiquitous External Ejaculation.

The debate over pornography has drawn attention to sex differences not only in the frequency of pornography consumption but also in the different ways males and females may perceive sexually explicit images and respond to them. Some of these differences may be due to sex differences in a variety of factors including sexual strategies and disgust, in particular, disgust related to pathogen avoidance. There is a large literature that focuses on how pathogen avoidance has shaped human behavior from political ideology to in-group/outgroup behavior to sexual risk taking/avoidance. This study examined sex differences in perceptions and how they are influenced by the emotional context of the image as well as individual difference factors, including disgust sensitivity, mate value, sociosexuality, and sexual orientation. Participants viewed a series of sexually explicit images of external ejaculations and rated them in terms of being positive, neutral, or negative. The factors accounting for the greatest variance in perceptions were target affect and sex, sexual orientation, and respondent sex, followed by pathogen and sexual disgust, self-perceived mate value, and sociosexual attitudes and desire.

Surveilling and Spying on Romantic Partners in the United States: The Influence of Perceived Maternal Rejection and Psychological Maladjustment

According to interpersonal acceptance-rejection theory (IPARTheory), people who perceive rejection by important others experience more psychological maladjustment than those who do not perceive rejection. IPARTheory predicts universal responses to perceived rejection or acceptance, making it important to explore its predictive ability with theoretically-related constructs like romantic relationships. Participants (N = 443; Mage = 36.05 years; SD = 11.26; 46% identifying as men, 45.4% reported their assigned sex at birth as male) completed surveys regarding perceptions of their childhood relationships with their mother, interpersonal anxiety, engagement in romantic surveillance, jealousy, infidelity, sociosexual orientation, and gender norms. We examined how well perceived maternal acceptance-rejection (independent variable) predicted reasons to spy/stalk on a romantic partner and the likelihood of spying/stalking (dependent variables). For both models, we explored psychological maladjustment, interpersonal anxiety, jealousy, and sociosexuality as mediators and included correlated demographic variables as covariates in the models. Jealousy mediated perceived maternal rejection and increased surveilling. Our study broadens the understanding of variables that influence surveilling behaviors in romantic relationships in the United States, and provides support for the universal application and predictive ability of IPARTheory.

Men’s Mate Value Correlates with a Less Restricted Sociosexual Orientation: A Meta-Analysis

Men, relative to women, can benefit their total reproductive success by engaging in short-term pluralistic mating. Yet not all men enact such a mating strategy. It has previously been hypothesized that high mate value men should be most likely to adopt a short-term mating strategy, with this prediction being firmly grounded in some important mid-level evolutionary psychological theories. Yet evidence to support such a link has been mixed. This paper presents a comprehensive meta-analysis of 33 published and unpublished studies (N = 5928) in which we find that that self-reported mate value accounts for roughly 6% of variance in men's sociosexual orientation. The meta-analysis provides evidence that men's self-perceived mate value positively predicts their tendency to engage in short-term mating, but that the total effect size is small.

Analysis of Sexual Inhibition and Satisfaction from a Gender Perspective among University Students.

University is characterized by a critical stage where students experience their sexuality, across a range of relationships. From these experiences, university students consolidate their personality and their sexual role. Factors such as age, sex, or traumatic experiences of violence or sexual abuse can affect their sexual role. The present study aims to analyze how the variables age, sex and having suffered abuse or violence may predict sexual satisfaction and inhibition. In addition, we analyze the mediating effect that sexual role plays on these relationships. For this purpose, Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI-12), Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), Inhibited Sexual Desire Test (ISD) and New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NESS) were administered to 403 university students. The findings report that sex (β = −0.313), age (β = −0.116) and being a survivor of sexual assault (β = 0.413) are predictive of male role, but not from the female role. Also, people with more male features tend to have lower levels of commitment and inhibition than those who have more female ones.

The Nomological Network of the Short Dark Tetrad Scale (SD4)

Abstract. The present study examined the nomological network of the Short Dark Tetrad scale (SD4). The SD4 measures narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and sadism. We translated the original English SD4 into German and used an online sample ( N = 594, 77% women) to investigate its nomological network with regard to the Big Five, honesty-humility, maladaptive personality traits, impulsivity, aggression, motives, values, sociosexual orientation, the octants of the interpersonal circumplex model, and self-esteem. The overall profile similarities between the observed and hypothesized nomological networks were very high. Few correlations differed concerning direction or magnitude. Hence, our study extends the nomological network of the Dark Tetrad in a meaningful way and suggests that the SD4 can be validly interpreted and used for the assessment of narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and sadism.

Validation of the French-Canadian Version of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF): Associations With Sexual Functioning, Sociosexual Orientation, and Sexual Compulsivity.

IntroductionThe Dual control model proposes that both excitatory and inhibitory processes are responsible for the human sexual response.AimTo validate the French-Canadian translation of the Sexual Inhibition and Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF) by exploring its factor structure and by investigating its capacity to retrospectively predict sexual functioning and behaviors, namely, sociosexual orientation and sexual compulsivity.MethodsA French-Canadian translation of the SIS/SES-SF was created using forward-backward translation. A community sample of 362 men and 420 women completed an online survey. The factor structure and the measurement invariance between men and women was explored using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling. Predictive power of the scales was tested using Multiple Linear Regression models using a corrected threshold (P< .008).Main outcome measuresSexual functioning was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function and the Female Sexual Function Index while sexual compulsion and sociosexual orientation were measured using the Sexual Compulsion Scale and the Revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory, respectively.ResultsThe original three-factor solution of the SIS/SES-SF was replicated. All three scales showed acceptable internal consistency and good temporal stability. Yet, results only supported configural measurement invariance between men and women, suggesting that their scores cannot be directly compared. Overall, for both men and women, higher sexual excitation (SES) was significantly predictive of better sexual functioning, while higher sexual inhibition due to threat of performance failure (SIS1) was a significant predictor of lower sexual functioning. Both sexual compulsivity and sociosexual orientation were significantly predicted by higher SES and lower sexual inhibition due to threat of performance consequences (SIS2).ConclusionThese results support the cross-cultural transferability of the SIS/SIS-SF and the Dual control model to French-Canadian men and women, higlighting the utility for clinicians to evaluate both excitatory and inhibitory factors associated with sexual dysfunction and sexual behaviors. Nolet K, Guay JP, Bergeron S. Validation of the French-Canadian Version of the Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form (SIS/SES-SF): Associations With Sexual Functioning, Sociosexual Orientation, and Sexual Compulsivity. Sex Med 2021;9:100374.

Dark triad, sociosexual orientation, and mate preferences in short and long-term relationships – Exploratory study

Some partner preferences are universal, while others show a pronounced inter-individual variation. As both Dark Triad and sociosexuality play an important role in mate choice, this study measured how inter-individual variation in these traits relate to preferred mate characteristics over two mating conditions. Participants (N = 419, M age = 20.62, SD = 4.27) completed an on-line survey on mate preferences, short Dark Triad measure, and sociosexuality inventory (SOI Attitude, Behaviour and Desire). Narcissism in women correlated with most demands (e.g., good financial prospects) in both short and long-term relationships. Machiavellianism in women correlated with preferring long and short-term partners with financial prospects, and short-term partners with favourable social status. Psychopathy in women had a negative association with several preferences (e.g., desire for children), but only in long-term context. The only significant correlation in men was between narcissism and preference for favourable social status in long-term partners. In both sexes and across both mating contexts chastity correlated negatively with sociosexual attitude. We also found a number of significant, negative correlations between sociosexual attitude and mate preferences in women (e.g., similar religion, desire for children).

It Takes Two to Tango: Development, Validation, and Personality Correlates of the Acceptance of Sugar Relationships in Older Men and Women Scale (ASR-OMWS).

Sugar relationships can be considered contemporary forms of transactional sex, that is, offering sexual services for material resources or other benefits. Considering the common age differences in these relationships, sugar relationships might be of relevance for older adults as well on the mating market. As a sequel to Birkás et al. (2020), in the present study, an attitude scale was developed to assess older women’s and men’s acceptance of sugar relationships. We also explored whether the acceptance of sugar relationships was associated with love styles, sociosexual orientation, sexual motivation, and certain socially aversive personality traits. In two online studies with a total number of 836 participants (N = 277 women and 559 men), the results showed that the Acceptance of Sugar Relationships in Older Men and Women Scale (ASR-OMWS) proved to be a reliable and conceptually valid measure of older individuals’ attitude toward sugar relationships. A more accepting attitude toward sugar relationships was found to be associated with more unrestricted sociosexuality, preference to engage in playful love relationships and more self-focused sexual motivation (study 1; N = 481, 167 women and 314 men), and with more pronounced Dark Triad and borderline traits (study 2; N = 355, 110 women and 245 men). Our findings are discussed in an evolutionary framework.

Better relationships shut the wandering eye: Sociosexual orientation mediates the association between relationship quality and infidelity intentions

People who lack quality relationships are more likely to engage in infidelity but how relationship quality is associated with infidelity is less clear. One psychological mechanism that might help to explain these associations is sociosexuality. Here, we tested two models in which we assessed whether overall sociosexuality and sociosexuality subscales (i.e., attitude, behavior, desire) explain how relationship quality is related to infidelity intentions by sampling individuals in exclusive relationships ( N = 219). We found that individuals with lower relationship quality had more unrestricted sexual orientation, which in turn predicted a greater intention toward infidelity. In addition, lower quality relationships were associated with greater intentions toward infidelity through behavior and desire, but not attitude dimensions of sociosexuality.

The role of self-control and sociosexual orientation in partner selection: A speed-dating study

Self-control is a crucial factor in maintaining an established romantic relationship, but its role in relationship formation is understudied. The current study tested whether trait self-control is related to a more selective approach toward romantic partners. Over 4 years, we organized 11 speed-date events at which a total of 342 single, heterosexual participants met potential partners. Our results indicated that there was no main effect of self-control on selectivity. However, there was an interaction between self-control and sociosexual orientation (SOI) in predicting selectivity. Specifically, self-control was positively related to selectivity for people with a restricted SOI (i.e., interested in a long-term, stable relationship). For people with an unrestricted SOI (i.e., interested in a short-term, sexual relationship), however, self-control was related to lower selectivity. Our findings point to the flexibility of self-control in facilitating goal progress, stimulating people to refrain from—or act on—their impulses, depending on their own personal mating goals.

Effects of Male Facial Masculinity on Perceived Attractiveness

Studies suggest that high levels of masculinity in men can be a signal of 'better genes' as well as low parental investment. It is the trade-off between these two qualities that has led to the hypothesis that women's preferences for male masculinity are condition-dependent, yet, not all studies support this hypothesis. In addition, there is evidence that more average faces would be perceived as more attractive. Here we study the variation in masculinity preferences of a cohort of heterosexual women (n=769), using manipulated 3D faces of male subjects. We used linear mixed models to test for effects of various covariates such as relationship status, use of hormonal contraception, sociosexual orientation and self-perceived attractiveness on preference for masculinity. Our results show that women's sociosexual orientation has a positive correlation with masculinity preference while using hormonal contraception decreases this preference. None of the other covariates displayed any significant effect on masculinity preference. The initial level of masculinity of the faces (very low, low, average, high and very high) was also shown to affect this preference, where we found a significant preference for higher masculinity in the very low and average group, while no preference was found in the other groups. Our findings support the notion that condition-dependent variables have very small effects, if any, on women's preference for masculinity in men.

Personality traits and sociosexual orientation are related to sexual inhibition and sexual excitation scales: Evidence from the Czech Republic

Numerous studies show that personality traits are linked to various aspects of sexuality and sexual health. A limited number of studies investigated associations between the Big Five personality traits and individual propensity to sexual excitation and inhibition, i.e. factors explaining individual variability in sexual responsiveness. We used Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES) and NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) to test these associations in a large Czech sample (N = 951), while focusing on sex and sexual orientation of participants. We confirmed that the SIS/SES is connected to several personality traits, with several specific associations related to sex and sexual orientation. SES positively correlates with Openness in heterosexual men and women and with Extraversion in heterosexual and non-heterosexual women but not in men. SIS scales negatively correlated with Extraversion and positively with Neuroticism across all groups except non-heterosexual men. In heterosexual women, SIS 1 was associated with Conscientiousness. A surprising finding is lack of associations between personality factors and SIS/SES in the group of non-heterosexual men.