LAUSR

Abstract This study tested the hypothesis that the impact of sex and sex ratio on mating strategies (where favorable sex ratios increase the likelihood of men moving towards an unrestricted sociosexual orientation and of women moving towards a restricted sociosexual orientation) would be strongest for persons low in mate-value. Further, it was proposed that the effects of mate-value and sex-ratio would be mediated by changes in perceived mating opportunities. To test these hypotheses, male and female participants read a report designed to manipulate perceived sex ratio. The report gave participants the perception that there were either more men or more women available in their current environment. Participants then completed measures of their perceived mate-value and mating strategy (sociosexual orientation). As predicted, the interaction between the sex of the participant and sex ratio was strongest for persons low in mate-value.