Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Shackelford, Todd K.

Abstract

Although researchers agree that humans exhibit behavioral sex differences, there remains controversy over whether these sex differences are socially constructed or are the product of divergent evolutionary selection pressures on the psychologies of men and women. Through four studies, this dissertation presents evidence that behavioral sex differences have their origin in divergent evolutionary selection pressures and that these sex differences lead to conflict between the sexes. The first two studies investigate a type of sexual infidelity known as human mate poaching. The third study investigates the use of physical attractiveness as a tactic to persuade opposite-sex individuals. The fourth study documents expressions of hypothesized evolved psychological sex differences and sexual conflict in the lyrics of songs from hip-hop artists. The final chapter considers a social constructivist account for the origin of behavioral sex differences and argues that an evolutionary psychological account has greater explanatory power.

Extent

188 p.

Comments

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008.|Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008.

Identifier

FA00000852

Format

pdf

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