The effects of operational sex ratios on sociosexuality

Abstract

Among evolutionary theorists it is generally accepted that mating behaviors largely revolve around the availability of potential mates, as well as the amount and type of parental investment expended by either gender. It has been suggested that these factors also directly influence the expression of sociosexuality (i.e. willingness to engage in uncommitted sex) within any given population. More specifically, when one gender is in abundant supply, they must adapt their mating preferences to those of the gender in limited supply in order to attract a sexual partner, or otherwise run the risk of never finding a partner as a result of population constraints. While most research on this topic has sought to examine these effects in environments where the sex ratio is naturally biased, this study empirically manipulates the sex ratios of the website population in an attempt to demonstrate the theorized adaptive shifts in sociosexuality.