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18/02/2004
Women will abuse love rivals to get their man: study
Women are fierce competitors for the attentions of a mate and are pre-programmed to make disrespectful comments about love rivals, according to a study to be published this week in Biology Letters, the online journal of the Royal Society.
The study, conducted by a York University research team, concluded that women at the peak of their fertility cycle will "downplay other women’s facial attractiveness" as a strategy in competition for a mate.
"When a female finds a ‘potentially’ good mate, she will compete for him, and do so most fiercely when it is critical for conception," lead researcher Maryanne Fisher said.
Ms Fisher said intrasexual competition in women would lead to subjects derogating other women’s looks – or slagging off the opposition. Other tactics suggested in the study include attacking other women’s fidelity, promiscuity or maternal aptitude.
Researchers conducted the study by asking 104 male and female first-year students to rate colour photographs of other students’ faces taken several years before. The subjects were then screened to eliminate mitigating factors such as sexual orientation and the use of oral contraceptives or anti-depressants. To gauge fertility, the women who took part were asked to indicate where they were in their ovulatory cycle.
The researchers have claimed that this is the first study to demonstrate that women compete among themselves for potential mates in this way.
(gmcg)
The study, conducted by a York University research team, concluded that women at the peak of their fertility cycle will "downplay other women’s facial attractiveness" as a strategy in competition for a mate.
"When a female finds a ‘potentially’ good mate, she will compete for him, and do so most fiercely when it is critical for conception," lead researcher Maryanne Fisher said.
Ms Fisher said intrasexual competition in women would lead to subjects derogating other women’s looks – or slagging off the opposition. Other tactics suggested in the study include attacking other women’s fidelity, promiscuity or maternal aptitude.
Researchers conducted the study by asking 104 male and female first-year students to rate colour photographs of other students’ faces taken several years before. The subjects were then screened to eliminate mitigating factors such as sexual orientation and the use of oral contraceptives or anti-depressants. To gauge fertility, the women who took part were asked to indicate where they were in their ovulatory cycle.
The researchers have claimed that this is the first study to demonstrate that women compete among themselves for potential mates in this way.
(gmcg)
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