Presenters: Mikey Savage, College of Humanities and Social Science, Psychology
Authors: Savage, M., Daugaard, A., Pereira, T., Brorby, G., Cuara, P., Coles, L., Rangel, S., Christensen, C., Plewe, H., & Koenig, B. L.
Faculty Advisor: Bryan Koenig, College of Humanities and Social Science, Psychology
Institution: Southern Utah University
Several correlational studies have found that men over-perceive women’s sexual interest. Our research tests this possibility using experimental methods in a speed-dating context. We manipulated men’s level of interest by having women wear red lipstick or no lipstick. We found that men perceived women to have a greater sexual interest than women reported. Whereas women perceived the men to have less sexual interest than reported. However, the make-up manipulation failed to have a statistically significant effect on men’s sexual interest in women. Multilevel analyses suggest that participants projected their own level of sexual interest onto their dating partners. This held true for the total sample, men, and women.