A level playing field: No competitive advantage of conception risk in speed-dating

摘要

Does the ovulatory cycle play a role in women's allure to and receptivity towards men in a competitive dating scenario? We analyzed speed-dates (N-observations = 853 for men's attraction to women; N-observations = 850 for women's attraction to men) involving 100 normally ovulating women and 132 men. We failed to document a competitive advantage of conception risk (or disadvantage of menstruation). Conception risk also did not predict women's ratings of men's desirability or attractiveness. However, women at a greater conception risk were marginally more likely to offer men second dates. We conclude that while the roles of conception risk or menstruation on women's allure are likely to be small and inconsequential in the context of intersexual selection, marginal effects on women's receptivity to men should be further explored.