Are sex differences in sexual vs emotional jealousy explained better by differences in sexual strategies or uncertainty of paternity?
In a classic 1992 study, Buss, Larson, Westen, and Semmelroth reported that men were more distressed by the sexual infidelity of a partner and women were more distressed by a partner's emotional infidelity. Buss, et al. suggested that men are concerned about uncertainty of paternity, that is, the possibility of raising another man's child while believing that the child is his own. However, data can be explained in terms of men's greater preference for short-term sexual strategies. This research yielded support for the latter explanation for the samples in this present research.
Mathes
Eugene W
EW
Psychology Department, Western Illinois University, Macomb 61455, USA. EW-Mathes@wiu.edu
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007578:Jealousy; D008297:Male; D010334:Paternity; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires