This study tested predictions from Sexual Strategies Theory regarding mate preferences of heterosexual Filipinos. The study found that (1) men preferred characteristics indicating short-term mating more than women, who preferred long-term mating characteristics more, (2) adolescents preferred different characteristics than adults, likely due to differing life histories, and (3) men showed stronger preferences for fertility cues like youth and long hair compared to women. The study provided support for evolutionary psychological theories of human mating strategies and sex differences.

1. Mate Preferences of
Heterosexual Filipinos
Testing predictions from
Sexual Strategies Theory
of Buss and Schmitt
Darren E. Dumaop MA | De La Salle University-Dasmariñas & Manila | dedumaop@dlsud.edu.ph

2. Sex. Sex. Sex.
Sex between
heterosexuals
maintains the
existence of our
species
Sex is risky
1/3 Filipino youth
engage in sex

3. • Biological science
• Health
• Religion/culture
• Developmental
psychology
• Social psychology
• Advocacy
psychologies
Voices that explain sex
Evolutionary
darwin cartoon

4. Study of evolved
psychological
mechanisms
(Tooby &
Cosmides, 2005)
Explains sexual
behaviors in many
ways (e.g.,
Gangestad, 2000;
Evolutionary psychology
Automatic
Nonconscious
It happens so quickly you
don’t think about it!

5. Sexual strategies theory
(Buss & Smith, 1993)
Strategies
Nonconscious behaviors, traits or
attitudes that intend to solve
particular mating problem
Unplanned by the individual; planned
or designed by evolution

6. Sexual strategies theory
(Buss & Smith, 1993)
Long term mating
(LTM) =husband
and wife
Short term mating
(STM) =MOMOL,
FWB, one night
stand, orgy, casual
sex, gang bang,
threesome,

7. Sexual strategies of
heterosexual men
More in STM; Will choose women who are fertile,
healthy and would consent to sex (Buss, 1998;
Buss & Schmitt, 1993; Njus & Bane, 2009;
Rowatt & Schmitt, 2003; Schmitt & ISDP,
2003)
Less in parental investment (Trivers, 1972)
More likely to engage in casual sex,
masturbation, pornography use and cybersex
(Petersen & Hyde, 2010)
Wanted to have more than one wife unlike

8. Sexual strategies of
heterosexual women
More in LTM; Will choose men who can provide
(Buss & Schmitt, 1993; Schmitt, 2005)
Adapted to heavier parental investment (Trivers,
1972)
Desire long term relationship more than men
(Njus & Bane, 2009)
More selective of partner than men (Kelley &
Malouf, 2013)
Become more in STM when nearing ovulation
(Gangestad et al., 2004; Gangestad &

9. But evolutionary
psychology is never blind
on the role of context
Does not believe in Blank Slate or in
nature versus nurture (Pinker, 2002;
Tooby & Cosmides, 2005)
More nature is more nurture!
We have culture because our mind or
cognitive structure evolved to support the
existence of culture

10. Present hypotheses tested
Men will prefer characteristics that are
indicative of short term mating more
than women.
Women will prefer characteristics that are
indicative of long term mating more
than men.
Adults and adolescent samples will differ
in some characteristics that maybe due
to their life history.

11. Participants
Study 1 (n=194)
• 101 men, 93 women
• 123 single, 71 in a relationship
• 117 adolescents (Age 15-21; M=17.78,
SD=1.36), 77 adults (Age 22-37; M=27.14,
SD=3.82), t(88.80)=20.68, p<.001
Study 2 (n=152)
• 69 men, 83 women
• 81 single, 71 in a relationship
• 84 adolescents (Age 16-21; M=19.01,
SD=1.20), 68 adults (Age 22-40; M=26.81,

12. Instrument and procedure
Rated 47 character traits of ideal partners from
-3 (Very much disliked) to 0 (Not important)
to +3 (Very much liked)
Ambitious, Caring, Curvaceous or
sculpted body (E.g. large breasts,
muscular built), Excellent in domestic
duties (E.g. cooking, doing the laundry),
Good sense of humor, Possess special
talent (E.g. singing, dancing)
Participants were from Metro Manila, Cavite,
Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog; All of
them were either in college or finished a

13. Study 1 result
Characteristics Mean (SD)
F(1,190
)
ηp
2 Sig.
Men Women
Physically strong 4.89(1.35) 6.11(1.08) 50.47 .21
Long hair 5.11(1.51) 3.61(2.08) 36.34 .16
Tall 4.75(1.39) 5.75(1.29) 31.76 .14
Independent 5.77(1.30) 6.23(1.06) 7.36 .04 p=.007
Financially stable 5.61(1.22) 5.89(1.26) 4.21 .02 P=.022
Adolescen
t Adult
Conservative 5.58(1.21) 4.44(1.68) 29.67 .14
Playfulness in sex 4.68(1.52) 5.70(1.44) 23.15 .11
Caring 6.73(0.65) 6.27(1.10) 13.49 .07
Fair in complexion 5.61(1.20) 4.96(1.32) 13.19 .07
Slim 5.41(1.16) 4.82(1.68) 10.74 .05
Financially stable 5.54(1.35) 6.06(0.99) 9.98 .05 p=.002
Unless stated p.001

14. Study 2 result
Characteristics Mean (SD) F(1,148) ηp
2 Sig.
Men Women
Long hair 5.29(1.43) 3.68(2.03) 50.34 .25
Have sex with
someone known for
the last six months 3.45(1.96) 1.63(1.37) 43.88 .23
Physically strong 5.54(1.28) 6.40(0.78) 29.60 .15
Have sex with
someone known for
the last five years 4.43(2.13) 2.70(2.09) 24.63 .14
Financially stable 5.87(1.21) 6.59(0.66) 22.54 .13
Hardworking 6.36(0.97) 6.84(0.45) 16.60 .10
Respectful 6.29(1.03) 6.76(0.51) 14.12 .09
Independent 6.10(1.07) 6.60(0.60) 12.66 .08
Adolescent Adult
Age gap 2.71(3.43) 0.03(5.21) 16.48 .10
Financially stable 6.10(1.03) 6.47(0.97) 5.82 .04 p=.017
Unless stated p.001

15. A matter of post hoc
Adult men prefer younger partners (M=-
1.84,SD=6.82) while adolescent men prefer
older partners (M=1.45,SD=0.49) and this is
significant, t(39.44)=-2.49, p=.02.
Both adult (M=1.59,SD=2.53) and adolescent
(M=3.76,SD=3.43) women prefer older
partners, although their difference is
significant where adolescents prefer older
partners, t(80.40)=-3.31, p=.001.

16. Long hair? Sexual?
Men rate women with long
hair as more sexually
attractive and healthier
(e.g., Bereczkei &
Mesko, 2006; Hinz,
Matz & Patience, 2001;
Swami, Furnham &
Joshi, 2008)
Estrogen that is in charge
for producing long hair
is also in charge for
producing feminine-like
theberry.com

17. What we found
We confirmed that men are more in short
term mating strategies than women and
women are more in long term mating
strategies than men
Data confirmed that men prefer fertility
and not age per se (Delton, Robertson
& Kenrick, 2006): Adolescent men
prefer older women and adult men
prefer younger women

18. Limitations and
recommendation
Device more potent methods and tools to test
and measure preference and sexual
strategies
Device methodology that could assess further
the role of context that may influence mating
strategies
Seek participants who may represent
“adolescent” and “adult” categories more
accurately
Go beyond retesting, replicating and redoing

19. Implications
Facts support sex education of
adolescents: Sex interests are
strong and nonconscious
Society should recognize that
sexual promiscuity of men is
natural
Society should be informed that