Sexuality, Sex Behavior, & Sociality Studies
Another evolutionary model posits that forms of dissociation like self-deception may have been “exapted”—i.e., pre-existing or evolved for another purpose but now selectively preserved or enhanced for another purpose. Self-deception is simultaneously knowing contradictory information in the unconscious. Self-deception arguably helps in mating strategies by enabling individuals to deceptively self-promote without displaying the “tells” that are indicative of lying. The Cultural Knowledge and Mating Success study began during Lynn’s graduate training in the Gallup Evolutionary Psychology Lab and is a collaboration with Drs. Nate Pipitone (now at Adams State University) and Julian Keenan (Montclair State University). The study compares various indicators of mating-relevant self-deception and self-awareness to proxies of mating success.
Follow-up iterations of this study use an internet paradigm to survey adults nationwide. Results indicate that increased mating-relevant self-awareness may be moderated by self-deception to improve chances of maximizing the number of intercourse partners. However, it is possible that it is the other way around—individuals with high rates of intercourse partners who are self-aware employ self-deception as a self-protective mechanism. Data from this study are currently being analyzed and written up in conjunction with Jonathan Belanich.
Follow-up iterations of this study use an internet paradigm to survey adults nationwide. Results indicate that increased mating-relevant self-awareness may be moderated by self-deception to improve chances of maximizing the number of intercourse partners. However, it is possible that it is the other way around—individuals with high rates of intercourse partners who are self-aware employ self-deception as a self-protective mechanism. Data from this study are currently being analyzed and written up in conjunction with Jonathan Belanich.
Notice Anything New About Me? The Cichlids and Cosmetics Study
Among the findings of the Cultural Knowledge and Mating Success study were that females may exhibit more mating-relevant self-deception than males, which is contrary to predictions. This led us to question the role of female intra-sexual competition and to integrate the “lipstick effect,” which is a finding associated with the behavioral immune system model that when resources are threatened, cosmetics sales go up. This is ostensibly because males provide females access to resources, and bad times increase pressures on intra-sexual competition. This is doubly interesting, given the anecdotal truism that men are hardly aware of differences women make in cosmetics use. To test this model, Laura Moore collaborated with Ryan Earley‘s Animal Behavior and Endocrinology Lab to use convict cichlids as animal analogs for women’s perfume and cosmetics. Cichlid females have an orange spot previously assumed to be for mate attraction, but male fish do not actually have preference for a larger spot. Human men also seem to not care as much as women do about their cosmetics and perfumery. Fashion designer Betsey Johnson has said, “Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves or other girls. If girls dressed for boys they would just walk around naked all the time.” We hypothesize that, using these orange spots on cichlids as an analog, we will find evidence for intrasexual competition between females.
Do Bonobos Engage in Cunnilingus Study
Former HBERGer Christy McGee began a study in 2010 to test a hypothesis about oral sex as a fidelity detection tactic. We wondered at the antiquity of cunnilingus (oral-vaginal stimulation) as a possible means of detecting female infidelity. Perusal of the bonobo literature led to the discovery of only one instance, which was observed with regard to an adolescent. Gordon Gallup suggests this rarity is because, when it occurs experimentally, there is learned taste aversion. Query of bonobo researchers indicated that no one had purposefully watched for this behavior, reporting only high rates of fellatio (oral-penile stimulation). To investigate this, Erica Schumann recorded several hours of bonobo behavior at the Fort Worth Zoo in 2014. While no instantiations were observed, findings are inconclusive due to inadvertent curtailment of and limitations in sampling.
Sexual Consent on College Campuses Study (SCCCS)
In fall 2015, Juliann Friel began a study of the cultural models underlying male sexual aggression on college campuses. She collaborates on this study with Rich Colon at UConn.
Operation Sappho Study
Ashley Daugherty and Nick Roy initiated this study to test the hypothesis that sexual fluidity is positively associated with prosociality. They found preliminary support in analysis of the Human Relations Area Files and an online survey of a convenience sample. Future directions include refinement of the survey, sampling a larger data set, and examining the role of biochemicals (e.g., oxytocin) that may moderate effects.
Publications
2014 CD Lynn, RN Pipitone, JP Keenan. To Thine Own Self Be True: Self-Deceptive Enhancement and Self-Awareness Influences on Mating Success. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences 8(2):109-122, doi: 10.1037/h0097255.
