Experimental Evidence for Sex Differences in Sexual Variety Preferences: Support for the Coolidge Effect in Humans.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Level 4 by non-clinical design analogy (cross-sectional behavioral experiments with hypothetical choice tasks).
PubMed 32440927 · doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01730-x
What was done
The authors evaluated sex differences in preferences for sexual variety and novelty across two behavioral experimental tasks. In Study 1, participants (281 men, 353 women) completed hypothetical scenarios allocating chances to have sex across multiple individuals varying in age and attractiveness, and reported preferences regarding romantic partners changing physical appearance as well as their own appearance-altering habits. In Study 2, participants (40 men, 56 women) performed a hypothetical dating selection task using photographs to measure preferences for novel short-term mates.
What was found
In Study 1, men were more likely than women to select a variety of sexual partners across hypothetical scenarios regardless of target attractiveness and age. Men found it more appealing when committed partners altered their physical appearance, whereas women reported modifying their own appearance more frequently than men did. In Study 2, men were more likely than women to select a novel individual in the photo-dating task. The abstract does not report numerical effect sizes, test statistics, or p-values.
Why it matters
The findings provide experimental evidence consistent with evolutionary hypotheses that men exhibit stronger preferences for sexual variety and novelty (the Coolidge effect) in short-term mating contexts.
Limits
All outcomes were based on self-reports and hypothetical scenarios rather than observed real-world mating behavior. Study 2 had a small sample size (n = 96), and the abstract omits exact statistical effect sizes, confidence intervals, and participant demographic details.
Cited by
- supports The Coolidge effect describes a phenomenon in animals where males exhibit renewed sexual interest and copulatory capacity when presented with novel females.