Abstract
The main function of courtship behavior is to maximize reproductive success of an individual. Men and women have different thresholds for perception and interpretation of some courtship behavioral displays - in men is a bias toward attributing more sexual interest to target women.
The aim of our study is to find whether the female nonverbal courtship behaviors attract more attention (longer gaze fixation, pupil dilatation) than negative behaviors in male (M) and female (F) participants. 3 types of video-stimuli were developed: 1. Positive (courtship) 2.
Negative (rejection), 3. Neutral behaviors. 6 target female actresses were recorded from 1st person perspective.
For each videostimuli, participants (N = 42; 21 M, 21 F) rated target female interest in potential partner on a scale (1 - no interest at all, 9 - obvious interest) and Eyetracker Eyelink 1000Plus was used. M and F accurately recognized the displays of interest/rejection (F(6, 246) = 263,5; p < 0,001).
F ratings were more accurate than M. M attributed higher interest to target women in negative condition and lower interest in positive condition than F (F(6, 245) = 3,621; p = 0,002).
Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences in perception of negative and positive behaviors: mean length of fixation was higher for positive stimuli than for negative (F(2, 490) = 3,475; p = .032) and pupil size was significantly greater in positive context (F(2, 490) = 3,589; p = .028). The results confirm that F and M pay more attention to positive behaviors than to negative.
This may increase biological fitness of both sexes. Higher female sensitivity for any female courtship/rejective behavior helps women in potential mate competition.
Lower male sensitivity to rejection can on one hand lead to pointless investment in female who is not interested, but it may keep their interest in some yet undecided potential mates.