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Social Power and Mate Attraction in Short-Term and Long-Term Relationships
- Source :
- Sexes, Vol 5, Iss 4, Pp 461-474 (2024)
- Publication Year :
- 2024
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2024.
-
Abstract
- Social power can activate behavior toward goal attainment. In the context of romantic and sexual relationships, social power may facilitate competitor derogation tactics and self-promotion tactics to attract a partner. We hypothesized that perceived invulnerability to harm would provide a pathway linking social power to competitor derogation, whereas self-perceived mate value would provide a pathway linking social power to self-promotion. Findings from 218 participants (Mage = 38 years) revealed that experimentally manipulated social power enhanced perceived invulnerability, which in turn was positively associated with competitor derogation. Social power did not affect ratings of self-perceived mate value. Women more strongly endorsed self-promotion in pursuit of a short-term (vs. long-term) relationship, whereas men’s ratings did not vary by relationship goal. Our findings suggested that social power may influence goal-directed thinking and behavior in the context of romantic and sexual relationships.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 24115118
- Volume :
- 5
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Directory of Open Access Journals
- Journal :
- Sexes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- edsdoj.942c2162bcf4701b2320306285251b0
- Document Type :
- article
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes5040033