How disgust predicts the adoption of mate shortage solutions

When people cannot find desirable mating prospects, they may abstain, lower their standards, or travel farther to solve this mate shortage. We examined people's (N = 306) willingness to adopt these three solutions to mating shortages in relation to individual differences in disgust in men and women and for long-term and short-term partners. Those with more sexual disgust were more willing to abstain during a shortage of short-term mates and were less willing to lower their standards and to travel farther for short-term partners. Pathogen and moral disgust were associated with choosing to travel farther in the long-term contexts for men only. Our findings support the idea that how people evaluate costs and benefits in mating is expressed in their personality.

Automated summary

This study examines people's willingness to adopt different solutions to mating shortages and finds that individual differences in disgust are related to their choices. People's level of sexual disgust affects their willingness to abstain, lower their standards, or travel farther for potential partners.