Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive

and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.

Annelise Lorenzo, Brea Talsness, Rebecca Wheatman, & Leslie Zabala

For Dr. Mills' Psyc 310 class, Spring, 2011

Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and

formidable mates

Intro• Sexual dimorphism

• Male’s ability to protect partner

• Pros/Cons

• Women who like aggressive men

• Societies where aggression works

Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.

Intro• Hypothesis:

Neighborhood crime rates, resource inequality and perceived vulnerability to crime would be related to a preference for aggressive-formidable mates.

• Video: Miss Congeniality S.I.N.G.

Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.

Methods•Participants:

1,048 women via online survey

Ages 18-66; mean 30.01

•Dependent Variable

•Independent Variables

Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.

Results•Positive correlation between preference for

aggressive-formidable men and both PVC and real neighborhood crime.

•Formidable men insignificantly linked to resource inequality.

•Controlling for age, education and exposure to violent crime, PVC was positively related to preferences for aggressive formidability.

Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.

Discussion PVC predicted

woman’s preference for aggressive formidability.

Past experiences largely contribute, not just crime stats.

Suggests girls assess environment during critical window and calculate mate preferences.

Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.

Discussion Women’s perception of danger predicted extent to which they valued aggressive-formidability in a mate.

Tend to prefer these mates only when benefits outweigh the costs.

Conclusion: women = capable strategists, capable of seeking aggressively formidable partners when profitable.

Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.

Critical Review

•Pros One of the few studies to study preferences for aggressive-formidable males and long-term relationships

•Cons Method of surveying participants (self-report)

Sample problem

Snyder, J. K., Fessler, D. T., Tiokhin, L., Frederick, D. A., Lee, S., & Navarrete, C. (2011). Trade-offs in a dangerous world: Women's fear of crime predicts preferences for aggressive and formidable mates. Evolution and Human Behavior, 32(2) 127-137.