Experimental Activation of Anti-Cuckoldry Mechanisms Responsive to Female Sexual Infidelity

Author(s)

Valerie G. Starratt, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
W.F. McKibbin
T.K. Shackelford

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Personality and Individual Differences

ISSN

0191-8869

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Abstract

Recent research indicates that men may have evolved mechanisms dedicated to detecting and responding to the risk of partner infidelity. Because activation of these “anti-cuckoldry” mechanisms depends on partner infidelity, or the perception of partner infidelity, existing evidence for such mechanisms relies on correlational data. The current study tests several predictions regarding men’s anti-cuckoldry mechanisms in an experimental design. As predicted, the results demonstrated: (1a) experimental activation of men’s anti-cuckoldry mechanisms by presenting them with a vignette depicting a female partner’s sexual infidelity; (1b) no activation of men’s anti-cuckoldry mechanisms by presenting them with a vignette depicting a sexual encounter without female infidelity; (2) experimental activation of men’s anti-cuckoldry mechanisms was influenced by their perceived risk of partner infidelity; and (3) women were not influenced by the partner infidelity manipulation.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.02.005

Volume

55

First Page

59

Last Page

62

NSUWorks Citation

Starratt, V. G., McKibbin, W., Shackelford, T. (2013). Experimental Activation of Anti-Cuckoldry Mechanisms Responsive to Female Sexual Infidelity. Personality and Individual Differences, 55, 59-62.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1171