The political psychology of reproductive strategies

Abstract

We argue that several reproductive strategies that parental investment theory suggests are adaptive for men and for women are in fact most adaptive for individuals able and willing to use power in dominance relationships. We tested whether people's support for social dominance mediates their willingness to use these reproductive strategies. We hypothesized that the strategies of multiple simultaneous mating, resistance to caring for children as one's own, and sexual jealousy will be appealing especially to men who approve of social dominance, and that finding a high-status, high-earning mate will appeal especially to women who approve of social dominance. Support for the hypotheses using multiple samples and multiple measures was found, and theoretical issues are discussed.