Oral Sex May Serve as Low Mate Value Compensation Among Men: Evidence from a Pre-registered Study

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-04-22T03:13:14Z
dc.abstract.enFrom the evolutionary perspective, maintaining a committed relationship is beneficial for reproductive success but involves risks such as losing a partner or infidelity. People typically prefer partners with similar mate value (MV) to avoid rejection. However, when a mate value discrepancy (MVD) arises, the partner with lower MV might employ mate retention strategies to maintain the relationship. This study investigated whether men with lower MV compared to their female partners used cunnilingus more often and whether this effect was mediated by their motivation to satisfy the partner. Additionally, it tested the moderating role of men’s perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD), predicting that men less concerned about disease would show a stronger link between MVD and cunnilingus frequency, given the health risks associated with oral sex. Data from 540 men in committed heterosexual relationships confirmed that a higher MVD—where the man's MV was lower than his partner's—led to more frequent cunnilingus, and this relationship was mediated by a greater motivation to sexually satisfy the partner. However, the moderating role of PVD was not confirmed. We explore the evolutionary perspective that men may perform oral sex on their partners as a mate retention strategy. This behavior potentially serves as a benefit-provisioning mechanism, compensating for discrepancies in mate value.
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii w Sopocie
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.affiliationCentrum Badań nad Biologicznymi Podstawami Funkcjonowania Społecznego
dc.contributor.authorFrankowska, Natalia
dc.contributor.authorSzymków-Sudziarska, Aleksandra
dc.contributor.authorGalbarczyk, Andrzej
dc.date.access2024-12-26
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-15T12:15:56Z
dc.date.available2025-04-15T12:15:56Z
dc.date.created2024-12-05
dc.date.issued2025-03
dc.description.abstract<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>From the evolutionary perspective, maintaining a committed relationship is beneficial for reproductive success but involves risks such as losing a partner or infidelity. People typically prefer partners with similar mate value (MV) to avoid rejection. However, when a mate value discrepancy (MVD) arises, the partner with lower MV might employ mate retention strategies to maintain the relationship. This study investigated whether men with lower MV compared to their female partners used cunnilingus more often and whether this effect was mediated by their motivation to satisfy the partner. Additionally, it tested the moderating role of men’s perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD), predicting that men less concerned about disease would show a stronger link between MVD and cunnilingus frequency, given the health risks associated with oral sex. Data from 540 men in committed heterosexual relationships confirmed that a higher MVD—where the man's MV was lower than his partner's—led to more frequent cunnilingus, and this relationship was mediated by a greater motivation to sexually satisfy the partner. However, the moderating role of PVD was not confirmed. We explore the evolutionary perspective that men may perform oral sex on their partners as a mate retention strategy. This behavior potentially serves as a benefit-provisioning mechanism, compensating for discrepancies in mate value.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimebefore_publication
dc.description.additionalvorPełne dane publikacji: Frankowska, N., Szymkow, A. & Galbarczyk, A. (2025). Oral Sex May Serve as Low Mate Value Compensation Among Men: Evidence from a Pre-registered Study. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 54, 893–903. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-03064-4
dc.description.physical893-903
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume54
dc.identifier.doi10.1007/s10508-024-03064-4
dc.identifier.eissn1573-2800
dc.identifier.issn0004-0002
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1207
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-024-03064-4
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOTHER
dc.subject.enOral sex
dc.subject.enCunnilingus
dc.subject.enMate value
dc.subject.enSexual behavior
dc.subject.enMate retention
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleOral Sex May Serve as Low Mate Value Compensation Among Men: Evidence from a Pre-registered Study
dc.title.journalArchives of Sexual Behavior
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle