Human female sexual signalling: hormones, mating motivation, and behaviour. — ASN Events

Human female sexual signalling: hormones, mating motivation, and behaviour. (#113)

Danielle L Wagstaff 1 , Danielle Sulikowski 2 , Joshua Makin 1 , Darren Burke 1
  1. School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia
  2. School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia

Research investigating human behaviour patterns leading to successful mate choice, sex differences in these patterns, and their physiological and hormonal correlates has been increasing in recent years. Here I will focus on female gonadal hormones and their impact on sexual signalling, considering the evolutionary functions of these behaviour patterns. In a study of 31 young Australian females we demonstrated changes in dress choice as a function of proximity to ovulation, with increases in skin exposure as women approach ovulation, and discuss how these changes relate to women’s preferences for masculine/feminine faces, their levels of progesterone and estradiol, and their self-reported mating motivation. For example, we have found a positive correlation between the proportion of skin exposed, and attraction to masculine faces in a short-term partner. Additionally, we will explore hormonal correlates of facial structure and perceived facial attractiveness across the menstrual cycle, with discussion of recent arguments against concealment of ovulation in humans.