Introduction Question: Do women really prefer ‘macho’ men? 'From the moment I meet a woman that I fancy, I'm thinking that I'll do something with her, I'm going to get to know her and have an adventure; I can't stop it, it's part of me’ ’… . We're unfaithful by nature, I guess men are just born bad.'

Machismo - Definition “ Machismo” a Spanish term negatively regarded syndrome of hyper- or traditional masculinity “ Maschio” Italian variant of hyper-masculine behavior

“ Machismo”

a Spanish term

negatively regarded syndrome of hyper- or traditional masculinity

“ Maschio”

Italian variant of hyper-masculine behavior

Machismo in Popular Literature Traditional Machismo Negative characteristics of sexism, chauvisnism and hypermasculinity … .incompetent, domineering through intimidation, and as seducing and controlling women. - Anders 1993 Violent, rude, womanizing, …prone to Alcoholism - Imhof (1979) Violent, aggressive, and sexualized behaviors…

Traditional Machismo

Negative characteristics of sexism, chauvisnism and hypermasculinity

Machismo in Psychological Literature Negative Construct (-) Traditional machismo Hyper-masculinity Violent Aggression Focus on individual power Positive Construct (+) Caballerismo A code of masculine chivalry Nurturance Protection of family Honour Dignity Responsibility Emotional connectedness (Study by Arciniega and Anderson, 2008)

Negative Construct (-)

Traditional machismo

Hyper-masculinity

Violent

Aggression

Focus on individual power

Positive Construct (+)

Caballerismo

A code of masculine chivalry

Nurturance

Protection of family

Honour

Dignity

Responsibility

Emotional connectedness

Traits of Machismo fall on a continuum. Displayed most prominently in Latin Americans Southern Spain Northern Europe America Prominence of Machismo

Traits of Machismo fall on a continuum.

Displayed most prominently in Latin Americans

Machismo Value System: Intrinsically about regulating relationships between men

Value System:

Intrinsically about regulating relationships between men

Machoism in Agricultural Societies Fear and envy hypothesis (Freud) Machoism as a coping mechanism

Fear and envy hypothesis (Freud)

Machoism as a coping mechanism

Machismo in Industrial Societies Dependent on Role of women Patterns of hyper-masculinity decline Horticultural societies to Industrial societies

Dependent on Role of women

Patterns of hyper-masculinity decline

Horticultural societies to Industrial societies

Presentation Outline HyperMasculinity Macho Traits Relating to the Big 5 Behaviors displayed by Macho men Do women prefer Macho Men? Study 1: Ovulation cycle Study 2: Hyperfeminity Conclusion Do women prefer ‘Macho’ Men?

HyperMasculinity

Macho Traits

Relating to the Big 5

Behaviors displayed by Macho men

Do women prefer Macho Men?

Study 1: Ovulation cycle

Study 2: Hyperfeminity

Conclusion

Do women prefer ‘Macho’ Men?

Macho Man Personality & Behaviors Callous Sexual Attitudes Violence as Manly Dangerous as Exciting

Traits of a Macho Man High Openness to Experience Low Conscientiousness High Extraversion Low Agreeableness High/Low Neuroticism

High Openness to Experience

Low Conscientiousness

High Extraversion

Low Agreeableness

High/Low Neuroticism

Traits and Behavior High O + Low C + High E Risky behaviors (sex, substance abuse, reckless driving) Low A Aggression, dominance, low harmony in relationships High O Low commitment in relationships, multiple sexual partners

High O + Low C + High E

Risky behaviors (sex, substance abuse, reckless driving)

Low A

Aggression, dominance, low harmony in relationships

High O

Low commitment in relationships, multiple sexual partners

Traits and Behavior Low N “ I’m too cool for this” image  Less expression of worries (seem as if no worries) High N? Intrinsic (not obvious to people) Insecurity (body image, inability to meet social expectations of gender)

Low N

“ I’m too cool for this” image  Less expression of worries (seem as if no worries)

High N?

Intrinsic (not obvious to people)

Insecurity (body image, inability to meet social expectations of gender)

Aggressive Behaviour Aggressive and dangerous driving (Krahe & Fenske, 2002) More willing to take risks 1 1/2 times more likely than females to kill someone in an accident Seen as biologically unable to control their ‘passions’ (Asencio, 1999) More macho  Higher exaggeration of jealousy and violence Violence to be encountered as being expected

Aggressive and dangerous driving (Krahe & Fenske, 2002)

More willing to take risks

1 1/2 times more likely than females to kill someone in an accident

Seen as biologically unable to control their ‘passions’ (Asencio, 1999)

More macho  Higher exaggeration of jealousy and violence

Violence to be encountered as being expected

Substance Abuse Behaviour Illegal drug use (Brook, Brook, Rosa, Whiteman, Johnson & Montoya, 2000) More macho, the higher the risk of illegal drug use Problematic and heavy alcohol use (Huselid & Cooper, 1992) Strongly correlated to negatively valued traits of being macho E.g. aggressiveness

Illegal drug use (Brook, Brook, Rosa, Whiteman, Johnson & Montoya, 2000)

More macho, the higher the risk of illegal drug use

Problematic and heavy alcohol use (Huselid & Cooper, 1992)

Strongly correlated to negatively valued traits of being macho

E.g. aggressiveness

Sexual Behaviours Higher risk of getting STDs (Forrest, Austin, Valdes, Fuentes & Wilson, 1993) Casual sex coupled with low condom usage Want to be seen as hard-headed ‘chollos’ or ‘macho’ Gender based sexual violence (Asencio,1999) Male exert power and control towards female behavior Seen as legitimate expression of manliness

Higher risk of getting STDs (Forrest, Austin, Valdes, Fuentes & Wilson, 1993)

Casual sex coupled with low condom usage

Want to be seen as hard-headed ‘chollos’ or ‘macho’

Gender based sexual violence (Asencio,1999)

Male exert power and control towards female behavior

Seen as legitimate expression of manliness

Love Behavior Less loving (Coleman & Ganong, 1985) Lower tolerance of faults m=47.53 vs m=51.73 Less aware of feelings of love m=11.81 vs m=13.16 Less expression of love Machismo stereotype discourages expression Un-expression m=40.20 vs m=32.58 Demonstration of loving behavior significantly lower m=77.09 vs m=82.46

Less loving (Coleman & Ganong, 1985)

Lower tolerance of faults

m=47.53 vs m=51.73

Less aware of feelings of love

m=11.81 vs m=13.16

Less expression of love

Machismo stereotype discourages expression

Un-expression m=40.20 vs m=32.58

Demonstration of loving behavior significantly lower

m=77.09 vs m=82.46

Ovulatory Study

Ovulation Study Women rated long term & short term attractiveness of men based on: Men’s self descriptions Why they were better than competitors (Gangestad, Garver-Apgar, Simpson & Cousins, 2007)

Women rated long term & short term attractiveness of men based on:

Men’s self descriptions

Why they were better than competitors

Women’s attractiveness ratings Faithfulness Warmth Intelligence Potential to be good father Potential for financial success Arrogance Confrontativeness Muscularity Physical attractiveness Socially respected Long-term Short-term

Faithfulness

Warmth

Intelligence

Potential to be good father

Potential for financial success

Arrogance

Confrontativeness

Muscularity

Physical attractiveness

Socially respected

Long-term

Short-term

Women’s attractiveness ratings Ratings of men’s short-term mate attractiveness increase with conception risk Fertile women’s ratings of men’s short-term attractiveness more discriminating Male trait x Conception Risk

Ratings of men’s short-term mate attractiveness increase with conception risk

Fertile women’s ratings of men’s short-term attractiveness more discriminating

Women’s attractiveness ratings Fertile women drawn to men who possess traits valued in short-term mates

Fertile women drawn to men who possess traits valued in short-term mates

Multilevel Regression Analyses on Short-term and Long-term Preferences Intra-sexual competitiveness predicted short-term attractiveness positively Investing mate qualities predicted short-term attractiveness negatively

Intra-sexual competitiveness predicted short-term attractiveness positively

Investing mate qualities predicted short-term attractiveness negatively

Study Findings The good genes hypothesis Short-term mate preferences for particular male traits enhanced when women are ovulating

The good genes hypothesis

Short-term mate preferences for particular male traits enhanced when women are ovulating

HyperFeminity What kind of women would like macho men?

Hyper-feminine women (Maybach & Gold, 1994) Success depends on acquiring and sustaining relationship with man Expect men to be traditional and aggressive Subscribes to traditional gender roles Dependent and passive Sexual objects Socialized to flirt and play hard to get Marriage > Career

Success depends on acquiring and sustaining relationship with man

Expect men to be traditional and aggressive

Subscribes to traditional gender roles

Dependent and passive

Sexual objects

Socialized to flirt and play hard to get

Marriage > Career

Expectations of Hyperfeminism More attracted to macho men Respond differently than women low in HF Non-sexual scenario Consensual scenario Non-consensual scenario

More attracted to macho men

Respond differently than women low in HF

Non-sexual scenario

Consensual scenario

Non-consensual scenario

Methodology Questionnaires Hyper-femininity Inventory Personality description Scenarios

Questionnaires

Hyper-femininity Inventory

Personality description

Scenarios

High vs. Low HF Women high in hyper-femininity (HF) reported greater attraction to macho men less attracted to non-macho men p < 0.03 more attracted to macho men p < 0.04 more as a husband p < 0.02 more as a sex partner p < 0.01 more resemblance to their current or past boyfriends p < 0.03

Women high in hyper-femininity (HF) reported greater attraction to macho men

less attracted to non-macho men

p < 0.03

more attracted to macho men

p < 0.04

more as a husband

p < 0.02

more as a sex partner

p < 0.01

more resemblance to their current or past boyfriends

p < 0.03

Sexual Scenarios No significant difference in sexual and consensual situations Non consensual sexual situation HHF more attracted to macho men Favor him in all 3 situations Tolerant of coercive behavior

No significant difference in sexual and consensual situations

Non consensual sexual situation

HHF more attracted to macho men

Favor him in all 3 situations

Tolerant of coercive behavior

Emotions HF more angry “ Rejection of their sexuality” Failure to follow dating script

HF more angry

“ Rejection of their sexuality”

Failure to follow dating script

Emotions HHF Less offended Does not mean that HHF wants to be forced into sexual activity Overlook nonconsensual acts to maintain valued relationship Expect such behavior from men

HHF

Less offended

Does not mean that HHF wants to be forced into sexual activity

Overlook nonconsensual acts to maintain valued relationship

Expect such behavior from men

Study Findings Hyper-feminine women more attracted to macho men Prefer him over non-macho men Non-consensual scenario Self Reports

Hyper-feminine women more attracted to macho men

Prefer him over non-macho men

Non-consensual scenario

Self Reports

conclusion

Conclusion A Portrait of the Macho man (traits) Big 5 Do women prefer Macho men? Yes they do! Short Term Relationships Disposition Ovulation Cycle Long term relationship preferences for mates are stable.

A Portrait of the Macho man (traits)

Big 5

Do women prefer Macho men?

Yes they do!

Short Term Relationships

Disposition

Ovulation Cycle

Long term relationship preferences for mates are stable.

Why do so many women still end up with Macho men in the long term? Hyper-femininity Cultural Aspects Short term strategies are sometimes used to find long term mates.

Hyper-femininity

Cultural Aspects

Short term strategies are sometimes used to find long term mates.

Q & A

Thank You!

Ovulation study

Phase 1 Videotaped interviews of men answering questions on : Who they are and what they like/do not like to do Why they think they are the better choice for the date Complete a battery of questionnaires Socio-sexual orientation inventory Lifetime sex partners Debriefing

Videotaped interviews of men answering questions on :

Who they are and what they like/do not like to do

Why they think they are the better choice for the date

Complete a battery of questionnaires

Socio-sexual orientation inventory

Lifetime sex partners

Debriefing

Phase 2 Women randomly assigned to watch either Men’s introduction Men’s response to the “competitor” Asked to rate: Attractiveness as a short-term mate Attractiveness as a long-term mate

Women randomly assigned to watch either

Men’s introduction

Men’s response to the “competitor”

Asked to rate:

Attractiveness as a short-term mate

Attractiveness as a long-term mate

Phase 3 Separate group of women rated each man on perceived and/or inferred mate qualities Socially respected & influential Faithful Arrogant & self centered Warm Likely to be financially successful Intelligent Physically attractive Muscular Likely to be a good parent Confrontative with other men*

Separate group of women rated each man on perceived and/or inferred mate qualities

Socially respected & influential

Faithful

Arrogant & self centered

Warm

Likely to be financially successful

Intelligent

Physically attractive

Muscular

Likely to be a good parent

Confrontative with other men*

Phase 4 Trained raters coded: Men’s behavioral tactics Men’s non-verbal display Specific impressions of men’s interview performance 2 higher level factors of definition Social presence Direct intra-sexual competitiveness

Trained raters coded:

Men’s behavioral tactics

Men’s non-verbal display

Specific impressions of men’s interview performance

2 higher level factors of definition

Social presence

Direct intra-sexual competitiveness