Mating strategies across the menstrual cycle : preferences, jealousy, and masculinity

Abstract

Recent research suggests that there is more within- than between-sex variation in sociosexuality and that there may be organizational and activational effects of gonadal steroids on the mating tactics of women. For instance, there is preliminary evidence of a periovulatory sociosexuality tactic shift (PSTS), whereby women exhibit shifts away from their primary strategies when fertility is high. The present study was one of the first to examine mate preference as measured by the Romantic Partner Attribute Index, and romantic jealousy, across the menstrual cycle. Two hundred and thirteen women completed a Laboratory Session and on Online Questionnaire at each of three phases (menstrual, preovulatory, and luteal), but only 14 met strict post hoc criteria for phase comparisons.