The mating sociometer: a regulatory mechanism for mating aspirations.
Two studies (Ns = 80 and 108) tested hypotheses derived from Kirkpatrick and Ellis's (2001) extension and application of sociometer theory to mating aspirations. Experiences of social rejection-acceptance by attractive opposite-sex confederates were experimentally manipulated, and the impact of these manipulations on self-esteem, mating aspirations, and friendship aspirations was assessed. Results indicated that social rejection-acceptance by members of the opposite sex altered mating aspirations; that the causal link between social rejection-acceptance and mating aspirations was mediated by changes in state self-esteem; and that the impact of social rejection-acceptance by members of opposite sex was specific to mating aspirations and did not generalize to levels of aspiration in approaching potential same-sex friendships. This research supports a conceptualization of a domain-specific mating sociometer, which functions to calibrate mating aspirations in response to experiences of romantic rejection and acceptance.
Kavanagh
Phillip S
PS
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. p.kavanagh@cqu.edu.au
Robins
Sarah C
SC
Ellis
Bruce J
BJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001240:Aspirations, Psychological; D032763:Behavior Control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D012963:Sociometric Techniques; D055815:Young Adult