University of Twente Student Theses
Perceived motives and mental health characteristics of the involuntary celibates : what Incel men think women value in a mate vs. women's actual mate preferences
Kreuzberg, Martha (2020) Perceived motives and mental health characteristics of the involuntary celibates : what Incel men think women value in a mate vs. women's actual mate preferences.
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| Abstract: | The present study examines, whether there is a difference between what Incel men think women value in a mate and women’s actual mate preferences. Previous research supposes, Incel men tend to reduce the dimensions of women’s mate preferences to one’s of physical attractiveness and social status. However, research on women’s mate preferences reveals these preferences are multidimensional and stresses the importance of commitment cues to women, such as interpersonal warmth. Based on this research, the present study investigates Incel men’s and women’s responses to a questionnaire, assessing the Incel men’s perception of women’s mate preferences on the three dimensions physical attractiveness, social status and interpersonal warmth. Predictions entailed, the Incel men think women prefer traits related to physical attractiveness and social status more than non-Incel women do themselves. Further, it was hypothesized that women show stronger preferences towards traits related to physical attractiveness in the short-term, than in the long-term. Next to this, it was hypothesized that women rate traits of interpersonal warmth higher than traits of physical attractiveness and social status when it comes to long-term mate preferences. The results revealed the Incel men indeed thought women rate physical attractiveness and social status higher in mating, than women actually do. Regarding the women’s mate preferences, the predictions are also supported. However, higher sample sizes of self-identified Incels should be obtained to increase the generalizability of the results. Therefore, validation of the above findings should be subject to further research of the Incels perception on mate preferences. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/81872 |
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