Long-run Effect of Heterosexual Rejection on Mating Behavior for College Students:Based on the Sociometer Theory

ZHANG LIN Shen LIU Lu-Jun Ruan

Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2016, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1) : 131-136.

PDF(490 KB)
PDF(490 KB)
Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2016, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1) : 131-136.

Long-run Effect of Heterosexual Rejection on Mating Behavior for College Students:Based on the Sociometer Theory

  • ZHANG LIN1,Shen LIU1, 2,Lu-Jun Ruan1
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Abstract

Mate choice has been a hot topic in sociology and psychology for a long time. Lots of researchers studied on mating behavior by establishing and verifying hypotheses. Theoretical frameworks of mating preference have been continuously improved after decades of development,such as the complementary theory and the social exchange theory and so on. Mate choice is not only a static phenomenon,but also a dynamic process. Many researchers always aimed at static characteristics of mate choice,such as mate-selection preference. However,when a man or a woman lost his or her heart to a woman or a man,he or she may be rejected. That is,mating is more of an interactive process. In recent years,Sociometer Theory,which was put forward by Leary opened up a new perspective for researches into mate choice,and it provided a theoretical basis to study the dynamic process of mating. The sociometer theory emphasized the extent of social inclusion or exclusion of an individual from the perspective of self-esteem. It argued that self-esteem was the most important component of self-concept and played a critical role in psychological adaption system which was the intrinsic reflection of mate choice and other behaviors. This present study aims to explore the interactive feedback from both sexes on their mating behavior in the mating process based on the sociometer theory,and to further explore the inner mechanism of mating behavior. The present study used the method of questionnaire survey. A total of 339 participates were recruited in this survey. The questionnaire used in the study were:mate-rejection experience scale,self-perceived mate value questionnaire,mate-selection preference questionnaire,and mating behavior tendency scale. The results were as follows:(1) The experiences in rejection of opposite sex of male were higher than that of female. (2) The criteria in mating of female were significantly higher than that of male. (3) The mating behavior tendency of male was slightly higher than that of female. (4) For males,there were significant negative correlations between self-perceived mating value(r=-.550,p<.01),criteria in mating(r=-.006,p>.05),mating behavior tendency(r=-.398,p<.01) and the experiences in rejection of opposite sex. There were significant positive correlation between criteria in mating(r=.054,p>.05),mating behavior tendency(r=.471,p<.01) and self-perceived mating value. (5) For males,there were significant negative correlations between self-perceived mating value(r=-.590,p<.001),criteria in mating(r=-.18,p<.01),mating behavior tendency(r=-.39,p<.001) and the experiences in rejection of opposite sex. There were significant positive correlation between criteria in mating(r=.21,p<.001),mating behavior tendency(r=.40,p<.001) and self-perceived mating value. (6) As for males,the experiences in rejection of opposite sex had a negative effect on mating behavior of college students. And self-perceived mate value partially mediated the relationship between mate-rejection and mating behavior. (7) As for females,there were not significant effect of the experiences in rejection of opposite sex on mating behavior of college students. And self-perceived mate value did not mediate the relationship between mate-rejection and mating behavior. Finally,the theoretical and practical implications of the findings from the study were discussed. It was argued that the findings enriched the theory of sociometer by confirming the mediating role of self-perceived mate value in the relationship between mate-rejection and mating behavior. It suggests,based on the findings,that we can decrease the experiences in rejection of opposite sex by increasing the self-perceived mate value,lowering the criteria in mating,and promoting the mating behavior tendency.

Key words

Heterosexual rejection / Self-perceived mate value / Mating behavior tendency / Criteria in mating / Sociometer theory

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ZHANG LIN Shen LIU Lu-Jun Ruan. Long-run Effect of Heterosexual Rejection on Mating Behavior for College Students:Based on the Sociometer Theory[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2016, 39(1): 131-136
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