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Oxytocin amplifies sex differences in human mate choice

Lei Xu, View ORCID ProfileBenjamin Becker, Ruixue Luo, Xiaoxiao Zheng, Weihua Zhao, Qiong Zhang, Keith M. Kendrick
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/416198
Lei Xu
1The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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Benjamin Becker
1The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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  • ORCID record for Benjamin Becker
Ruixue Luo
1The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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Xiaoxiao Zheng
1The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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Weihua Zhao
1The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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Qiong Zhang
1The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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Keith M. Kendrick
1The Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science, MOE Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China.
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  • For correspondence: kkendrick@uestc.edu.cn
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Abstract

Infidelity is the major cause of partnership breakups across cultures and individuals with a history of infidelity are more likely to repeat it, although they may also present a greater opportunity for short-term sexual relationships. Here we have firstly investigated sex-differences in the attractiveness and perceived relationship potential of individuals who have exhibited fidelity or infidelity in a previous relationship. We also examined whether these sex differences are amplified by the neuropeptide oxytocin which promotes partner bonds but may also enhance sex-differences in social priorities. While both sexes valued faithful individuals most for long-term relationships, men were more interested in having short-term relationships with previously unfaithful individuals than women, irrespective of current relationship status. Oxytocin administration increased men’s attraction to unfaithful women and wanting short-term relationships with them, whereas women became more averse to unfaithful men and instead exhibited an even greater preference for having long-term relationships with faithful ones. The oxytocin effect on relationship-choice was only found in single individuals in line with their higher priority for finding a prospective partner. Thus, oxytocin release during courtship may first act to amplify sex-dependent priorities in attraction and mate choice before subsequently promoting romantic bonds with preferred individuals.

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The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC 4.0 International license.
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Posted September 17, 2018.
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Oxytocin amplifies sex differences in human mate choice
Lei Xu, Benjamin Becker, Ruixue Luo, Xiaoxiao Zheng, Weihua Zhao, Qiong Zhang, Keith M. Kendrick
bioRxiv 416198; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/416198
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Oxytocin amplifies sex differences in human mate choice
Lei Xu, Benjamin Becker, Ruixue Luo, Xiaoxiao Zheng, Weihua Zhao, Qiong Zhang, Keith M. Kendrick
bioRxiv 416198; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/416198

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