Visual Attention to Evolutionarily Relevant Information by Heterosexual Men and Women While Viewing Mock Online Dating Profles

Title
Visual Attention to Evolutionarily Relevant Information by Heterosexual Men and Women While Viewing Mock Online Dating Profles
Publication Date
2024
Author(s)
Gale, Madeleine
Torbay, Rosemary
Lykins, Amy D
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2930-3964
Email: alykins@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:alykins
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Springer New York LLC
Place of publication
United State of America
DOI
10.1007/s10508-024-02950-1
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/61665
Abstract

The way people create social connections and access information has been altered greatly by technology in recent decades. Online browsing of visual profles has become a common means for seeking potential partners for both short- and long-term relationships. Little is known, however, about how people prioritize mate quality information while viewing online profles. Using eye-tracking methods and self-report, this study investigated how people evaluated profle-based facial attractiveness and text-based fnancial resources information, represented by income and occupation. Heterosexual male and female participants, aged between 18 and 27 years, viewed opposite-sex profles while their eye-movements were recorded using a remote eye-tracking camera. In line with current theory, resources information had little efect on men’s overall attention to women’s faces, whereas women’s overall attention to men’s faces varied depending on the level of income and occupation. Women evaluated men’s faces more when income and occupation were low, regardless of attractiveness. Unexpectedly, however, men marginally increased their attention toward unattractive women who showed a high-level of income and more esteemed occupation. Men self-reported a higher interest in women for a short-term relationship and women self-reported a higher interest in men for a long-term relationship. This work provides a foundation to further examine how people browse profle-based information and to investigate the mate selection process, with real-world implications for online dating app users, profle design, and content.

Link
Citation
Archives of Sexual Behavior, v.53, p. 3073-3085
ISSN
1502-4717
0332-5865
Start page
3073
End page
3085
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International

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