A Sexual selection approach to women's pupil size preferences in a potential mate

Abstract

Dilated pupils represent a display of sexual interest. The attraction value of this display in a potential mate varies between women. While some females find a clear demonstration of sexual interest attractive, others prefer less overt sexual attentions. This study aims to account for these differences using a sexual selection approach. Male faces were manipulated to have three different pupil sizes to determine which size women find the most attractive. Individuals’ with unrestricted sociosexual orientation were shown to prefer larger pupils than those with restricted sociosexuality. Conversely, women taking hormonal contraceptives had a greater preference for men with medium pupil sizes than those with natural menstrual cycles. Therefore, both individual differences and circumstantial factors were shown to impact females’ pupil size preferences. These correlations suggest that the preferences may be a representation of the type of relationship a woman is currently interested in pursuing, with a preference for medium pupils corresponding to a long-term mating strategy and a preference for large pupils corresponding to a short-term mating strategy