Heterosexual men's reactions to infidelity revisited: Comparing the sex role presentation of extradyadic female partners

Abstract

Heterosexual men report less distress at infidelity from female interlopers than male interlopers. In addition to presenting no risk of cuckoldry, men could also perceive these women as additional sexual opportunities if they assume mutual interest from the female interloper. The current study considered this possibility by experimentally manipulating the sex role assumption of a female interloper (either masculine or feminine presentation) for expected sexual interest in men. Heterosexual men reacted to infidelity from hypothetical long-term romantic partners in two experiments. The extrapair mate was another man, a feminine woman, or a masculine-presenting woman. Although infidelity elicited an overall negative reaction, men reported less distress when the extradyadic partner was female. The feminine woman was additionally regarded as affording the most sexual opportunity. Effects were particularly amplified when this information included images of the extradyadic partner. Studies provide evidence for complementary hypotheses based on intrasexual conflict and intersexual opportunities.