Abstract
This study investigated the effect of gender role related characteristics in men on romantic and platonic attraction in women. Ninety-six female college students (approximately 70% Caucasian; 20% Mexican American; and 10% African American) were given a booklet containing descriptions of stimulus males. Feminine males were preferred as friends and romantic partners over masculine males. Feminine and masculine males were more attractive as friends than as dates. Income and occupational status did not affect platonic attraction, and occupational status did not affect romantic attraction. Income had a positive effect on romantic attraction only for those participants who were presented with males having socially desirable personality traits, suggesting that college women only consider men's income after personality criteria have been met.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brannon, R. (1976). The male sex role: Our culture's blueprint of manhood, and what it's done for us lately. In D. S. David & R. Brannon (Eds.).The forty-nine percent majority: The male sex role. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Burnett, J. J., & Dunne, P. M. (1986, August). An appraisal of the use of student subjects in marketing research.Journal of Business Research, 14, 329–343.
Farrell, W. (1986).Why men are the way they are. New York: Berkeley.
Gerber, G. L. (1988). Leadership roles and the gender stereotype traits.Sex Roles, 18, 649–668.
Howell, D. C. (1987).Statistical methods for psychology (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: PWS-Kent.
Ickes, W. (1993). Traditional gender roles: Do they make, and then break, our relationships?Journal of Social Issues, 49, 71–85.
Jean, P. J., & Reynolds, C. R. (1984). Sex and attitude distortion: Ability of females and males to fake liberal and conservative positions regarding changing sex roles.Sex roles, 10, 805–815.
Johnson, D. J., & Rusbult, C. E. (1989). Resisting temptation: devaluation of alternative partners as a means of maintaining commitment in close relationships.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 967–980.
Kenrick, D. T., Sadalla, E. K., Groth, G., & Trost, M. R. (1990). Evolution, traits, and the stages of human courtship: Qualifying the parental investment model.Journal of personality, 58, 97–116.
Kimlicka, T. A., Wakefield, J. A., & Goad, N. A. (1982). Sex-roles of ideal opposite sexed persons for college males and females.Journal of Personality Assessment, 46, 519–521.
Kulik, J. A., & Harackiewicz, J. (1979). Opposite-sex interpersonal attraction as a function of the sex-roles of the perceiver and the perceived.Sex Roles, 5, 443–452.
McCutcheon, L. E. (1988). Sex roles and interpersonal attraction for opposite-sex persons.Psychological Record, 38, 527–532.
McWilliams, S., & Howard, J. A. (1993). Solidarity and hierarchy in cross-sex friendships.Journal of Social Issues, 49, 191–202.
Spence, J. T., Helmreich, R., & Holohan, C. K. (1979). Negative and positive components of psychological masculinity and femininity and their relationships to neurotic and acting out behaviors.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 32, 29–39.
Sprecher, S. (19889). The importance to males and females of physical attractiveness, earning potential, and expressiveness in initial attraction.Sex Roles, 21, 591–607.
Townsend, J. M. (1987). Sex differences in sexuality among medical students: Effects of increasing socioeconomic status.Archives of Sexual Behavior, 16, 427–446.
Townsend, J. M., & Levy, G. D. (1990). Effects of potential partners' physical attractiveness and socioeconomic status on sexuality and partner selection.Archives of Sexual Behavior, 19, 149–164.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This study was based on a thesis project completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the master of arts degree in psychology at California State University in San Bernardino. Gloria Cowan, Ph.D., is gratefully acknowledged for her help throughout all phases of this project.
To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, who is now at the Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557-0062.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Desrochers, S. What types of men are most attractive and most repulsive to women?. Sex Roles 32, 375–391 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01544603
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01544603