A Critical Test of the Assumption That Men Prefer Conformist Women and Women Prefer Nonconformist Men

Hornsey, Matthew J, Wellauer, Richard, McIntyre, Jason C ORCID: 0000-0002-5601-524X and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2015) A Critical Test of the Assumption That Men Prefer Conformist Women and Women Prefer Nonconformist Men. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN, 41 (6). pp. 755-768.

	Text PSPB revision - Final.docx - Unspecified Download (230kB)
	Text PSPB revision - Final.pdf - Unspecified Download (738kB)

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0146167215577366

Abstract

Five studies tested the common assumption that women prefer nonconformist men as romantic partners, whereas men prefer conformist women. Studies 1 and 2 showed that both men and women preferred nonconformist romantic partners, but women overestimated the extent to which men prefer conformist partners. In Study 3, participants ostensibly in a small-group interaction showed preferences for nonconformist opposite-sex targets, a pattern that was particularly evident when men evaluated women. Dating success was greater the more nonconformist the sample was (Study 4), and perceptions of nonconformity in an ex-partner were associated with greater love and attraction toward that partner (Study 5). On the minority of occasions in which effects were moderated by gender, it was in the reverse direction to the traditional wisdom: Conformity was more associated with dating success among men. The studies contradict the notion that men disproportionately prefer conformist women.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	conformity, nonconformity, social role theory, gender, interpersonal attraction
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 Apr 2016 10:26
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2022 02:35
DOI:	10.1177/0146167215577366
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3000157