Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations: The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner

David P. Schmitt; Lidia Alcalay; Jüri Allik; Alois Angleitner; Lara Ault; Ivars Austers; Kevin L. Bennett; Gabriel Bianchi; Fredric Boholst; Mary Ann Borg Cunen; Johan Braeckman; Edwin G. Brainerd; Leo Gerard A. Caral; Gabrielle Caron; Maria Martina Casullo; Michael Cunningham; Ikuo Daibo; Charlotte De Backer; Eros De Souza; Rolando Diaz-Loving; Gláucia Diniz; Kevin Durkin; Marcela Echegaray; Ekin Eremsoy; Harald A. Euler; Ruth Falzon; Maryanne L. Fisher; Dolores Foley; Douglas P. Fry; Sirspa Fry; M. Arif Ghayur; Debra L. Golden; Karl Grammer; Liria Grimaldi; Jamin Halberstadt; Shamsul Haque; Dora Herrera; Janine Hertel; Heather Hoffmann; Danica Hooper; Zuzana Hradilekova; Jasna Hudek-Kene-evi; Jas Jaafar; Margarita Jankauskaite; Heidi Kabangu-Stahel; Igor Kardum; Brigitte Khoury; Hayrran Kwon; Kaia Laidra; Anton Rupert Laireiter; Dustin Lakerveld; Ada Lampert; Maryanne Lauri; Marguerite Lavallée; Suk Jae Lee; Luk Chung Leung; Kenneth D. Locke; Vance Locke; Ivan Luksik; Ishmael Magaisa; Dalia Marcinkeviciene; André Mata; Rui Mata; Barry McCarthy; Michael E. Mills; Nhlanhla J. Mkhize; João Moreira; Sérgio Moreira; Miguel Moya; M. Munyae; Patricia Noller; Adrian Opre; Alexia Panayiotou; Nebojsa Petrovic; Karolien Poels; Miroslav Popper; Maria Poulimenou; Volodymyr P'yatokha; Michel Raymond; Ulf Dietrich Reips; Susan E. Reneau; Sofia Rivera-Aragon; Wade C. Rowatt; Willibald Ruch; Velko S. Rus; Marilyn P. Safir; Sonia Salas; Fabio Sambataro; Kenneth N. Sandnabba; Marion K. Schulmeyer; Astrid Schütz; Tullio Scrimali; Todd K. Shackelford; Phillip R. Shaver; Francis Sichona; Franco Simonetti; Tilahun Sineshaw; Tom Speelman; Spyros Spyrou; H. Canan Sümer; Nebi Sümer; Marianna Supekova; Tomasz Szlendak; Robin Taylor; Bert Timmermans; William Tooke; Ioannis Tsaousis; F. S.K. Tungaraza; Griet Vandermassen; Tim Vanhoomissen; Frank Van Overwalle; Ine Vanwesenbeeck; Paul L. Vasey; João Verissimo; Martin Voracek; Wendy W.N. Wan; Ta Wei Wang; Peter Weiss; Andik Wijaya; Liesbeth Woertman; Gahyun Youn; Agata Zupanèiè

doi:10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560

Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations: The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner

David P. Schmitt
, Lidia Alcalay
, Jüri Allik
, Alois Angleitner
, Lara Ault
, Ivars Austers
, Kevin L. Bennett
, Gabriel Bianchi
, Fredric Boholst
, Mary Ann Borg Cunen
, Johan Braeckman
, Edwin G. Brainerd
, Leo Gerard A. Caral
, Gabrielle Caron
, Maria Martina Casullo
, Michael Cunningham
, Ikuo Daibo
, Charlotte De Backer
, Eros De Souza
, Rolando Diaz-Loving

Gláucia Diniz, Kevin Durkin, Marcela Echegaray, Ekin Eremsoy, Harald A. Euler, Ruth Falzon, Maryanne L. Fisher, Dolores Foley, Douglas P. Fry, Sirspa Fry, M. Arif Ghayur, Debra L. Golden, Karl Grammer, Liria Grimaldi, Jamin Halberstadt, Shamsul Haque, Dora Herrera, Janine Hertel, Heather Hoffmann, Danica Hooper, Zuzana Hradilekova, Jasna Hudek-Kene-evi, Jas Jaafar, Margarita Jankauskaite, Heidi Kabangu-Stahel, Igor Kardum, Brigitte Khoury, Hayrran Kwon, Kaia Laidra, Anton Rupert Laireiter, Dustin Lakerveld, Ada Lampert, Maryanne Lauri, Marguerite Lavallée, Suk Jae Lee, Luk Chung Leung, Kenneth D. Locke, Vance Locke, Ivan Luksik, Ishmael Magaisa, Dalia Marcinkeviciene, André Mata, Rui Mata, Barry McCarthy, Michael E. Mills, Nhlanhla J. Mkhize, João Moreira, Sérgio Moreira, Miguel Moya, M. Munyae, Patricia Noller, Adrian Opre, Alexia Panayiotou, Nebojsa Petrovic, Karolien Poels, Miroslav Popper, Maria Poulimenou, Volodymyr P'yatokha, Michel Raymond, Ulf Dietrich Reips, Susan E. Reneau, Sofia Rivera-Aragon, Wade C. Rowatt, Willibald Ruch, Velko S. Rus, Marilyn P. Safir, Sonia Salas, Fabio Sambataro, Kenneth N. Sandnabba, Marion K. Schulmeyer, Astrid Schütz, Tullio Scrimali, Todd K. Shackelford, Phillip R. Shaver, Francis Sichona, Franco Simonetti, Tilahun Sineshaw, Tom Speelman, Spyros Spyrou, H. Canan Sümer, Nebi Sümer, Marianna Supekova, Tomasz Szlendak, Robin Taylor, Bert Timmermans, William Tooke, Ioannis Tsaousis, F. S.K. Tungaraza, Griet Vandermassen, Tim Vanhoomissen, Frank Van Overwalle, Ine Vanwesenbeeck, Paul L. Vasey, João Verissimo, Martin Voracek, Wendy W.N. Wan, Ta Wei Wang, Peter Weiss, Andik Wijaya, Liesbeth Woertman, Gahyun Youn, Agata Zupanèiè

Bradley University
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
University of Tartu
Bielefeld University
University of Louisville
University of Latvia
University of New Mexico
Slovak Academy of Sciences
University of San Carlos - Philippines
University of Malta
Ghent University
Clemson University
Université Laval
Universidad de Buenos Aires
Osaka University
Illinois State University
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
University of Brasilia
University of Western Australia
Universidad de Lima
Bogazici University
University of Kassel
York University Toronto
University of Queensland
Åbo Akademi University
Al-Akhawayn University
University of Hawaii
Ludwig-Boltzmann-Inst. Urban E.
University of Catania
University of Otago
University of Dhaka
Technische Universität Chemnitz
Knox College
Comenius University
University of Rijeka
University of Malaya
Vilnius University
Centre d'Enseignement les Gazelles
American University of Beirut
Kwangju Health College
University of Salzburg
Institute for Subatomic Physics of Utrecht University
Ruppin Academic Center
National Computerization Agency
City University of Hong Kong
University of Idaho
University of Zimbabwe
University of Lisbon
University of Central Lancashire
Loyola Marymount University
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Universidad de Granada
University of Botswana
Babes Bolyai University
University of Cyprus
University of Belgrade
KPMG Kyriacou Counsultants SA
Volyn Regional Hospital
Université de Montpellier
University of Zurich
University of Alabama
Baylor University
Queens University Belfast
University of Ljubljana
University of Haifa
Universidad de La Serena
Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Florida Atlantic University
University of California at Davis
University of Dar Es Salaam
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Cyprus College
Middle East Technical University (METU)
Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
University of the South Pacific
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
SUNY
University of the Aegean
Netherlands Institute of Social Sexological Research
University of Lethbridge
Medical University of Vienna
University of Hong Kong
Yuan Ze University
Charles University
Couple Clinic Indonesia
Chonnam National University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

185 Scopus citations

Abstract

As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 16,954 participants from 53 nations were administered an anonymous survey about experiences with romantic attraction. Mate poaching - romantically attracting someone who is already in a relationship - was most common in Southern Europe, South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe and was relatively infrequent in Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Evolutionary and social-role hypotheses received empirical support. Men were more likely than women to report having made and succumbed to short-term poaching across all regions, but differences between men and women were often smaller in more gender-egalitarian regions. People who try to steal another's mate possess similar personality traits across all regions, as do those who frequently receive and succumb to the poaching attempts by others. The authors conclude that human mate-poaching experiences are universally linked to sex, culture, and the robust influence of personal dispositions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	560-584
Number of pages	25
Journal	Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Volume	86
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560
State	Published - Apr 2004
Externally published	Yes

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10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560

Cite this

Schmitt, D. P., Alcalay, L., Allik, J., Angleitner, A., Ault, L., Austers, I., Bennett, K. L., Bianchi, G., Boholst, F., Borg Cunen, M. A., Braeckman, J., Brainerd, E. G., Caral, L. G. A., Caron, G., Martina Casullo, M., Cunningham, M., Daibo, I., De Backer, C., De Souza, E., ... Zupanèiè, A. (2004). Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations: The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(4), 560-584. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560

@article{fa2e5d3d523840318dafb84d24859a5e,

title = "Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations: The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner",

abstract = "As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 16,954 participants from 53 nations were administered an anonymous survey about experiences with romantic attraction. Mate poaching - romantically attracting someone who is already in a relationship - was most common in Southern Europe, South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe and was relatively infrequent in Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Evolutionary and social-role hypotheses received empirical support. Men were more likely than women to report having made and succumbed to short-term poaching across all regions, but differences between men and women were often smaller in more gender-egalitarian regions. People who try to steal another's mate possess similar personality traits across all regions, as do those who frequently receive and succumb to the poaching attempts by others. The authors conclude that human mate-poaching experiences are universally linked to sex, culture, and the robust influence of personal dispositions.",

author = "Schmitt, \{David P.\} and Lidia Alcalay and J{\"u}ri Allik and Alois Angleitner and Lara Ault and Ivars Austers and Bennett, \{Kevin L.\} and Gabriel Bianchi and Fredric Boholst and \{Borg Cunen\}, \{Mary Ann\} and Johan Braeckman and Brainerd, \{Edwin G.\} and Caral, \{Leo Gerard A.\} and Gabrielle Caron and \{Martina Casullo\}, Maria and Michael Cunningham and Ikuo Daibo and \{De Backer\}, Charlotte and \{De Souza\}, Eros and Rolando Diaz-Loving and Gl{\'a}ucia Diniz and Kevin Durkin and Marcela Echegaray and Ekin Eremsoy and Euler, \{Harald A.\} and Ruth Falzon and Fisher, \{Maryanne L.\} and Dolores Foley and Fry, \{Douglas P.\} and Sirspa Fry and \{Arif Ghayur\}, M. and Golden, \{Debra L.\} and Karl Grammer and Liria Grimaldi and Jamin Halberstadt and Shamsul Haque and Dora Herrera and Janine Hertel and Heather Hoffmann and Danica Hooper and Zuzana Hradilekova and Jasna Hudek-Kene-evi and Jas Jaafar and Margarita Jankauskaite and Heidi Kabangu-Stahel and Igor Kardum and Brigitte Khoury and Hayrran Kwon and Kaia Laidra and Laireiter, \{Anton Rupert\} and Dustin Lakerveld and Ada Lampert and Maryanne Lauri and Marguerite Lavall{\'e}e and Lee, \{Suk Jae\} and \{Chung Leung\}, Luk and Locke, \{Kenneth D.\} and Vance Locke and Ivan Luksik and Ishmael Magaisa and Dalia Marcinkeviciene and Andr{\'e} Mata and Rui Mata and Barry McCarthy and Mills, \{Michael E.\} and Mkhize, \{Nhlanhla J.\} and Jo{\~a}o Moreira and S{\'e}rgio Moreira and Miguel Moya and M. Munyae and Patricia Noller and Adrian Opre and Alexia Panayiotou and Nebojsa Petrovic and Karolien Poels and Miroslav Popper and Maria Poulimenou and Volodymyr P'yatokha and Michel Raymond and Reips, \{Ulf Dietrich\} and Reneau, \{Susan E.\} and Sofia Rivera-Aragon and Rowatt, \{Wade C.\} and Willibald Ruch and Rus, \{Velko S.\} and Safir, \{Marilyn P.\} and Sonia Salas and Fabio Sambataro and Sandnabba, \{Kenneth N.\} and Schulmeyer, \{Marion K.\} and Astrid Sch{\"u}tz and Tullio Scrimali and Shackelford, \{Todd K.\} and Shaver, \{Phillip R.\} and Francis Sichona and Franco Simonetti and Tilahun Sineshaw and Tom Speelman and Spyros Spyrou and \{Canan S{\"u}mer\}, H. and Nebi S{\"u}mer and Marianna Supekova and Tomasz Szlendak and Robin Taylor and Bert Timmermans and William Tooke and Ioannis Tsaousis and Tungaraza, \{F. S.K.\} and Griet Vandermassen and Tim Vanhoomissen and \{Van Overwalle\}, Frank and Ine Vanwesenbeeck and Vasey, \{Paul L.\} and Jo{\~a}o Verissimo and Martin Voracek and Wan, \{Wendy W.N.\} and Wang, \{Ta Wei\} and Peter Weiss and Andik Wijaya and Liesbeth Woertman and Gahyun Youn and Agata Zupan{\`e}i{\`e}",

year = "2004",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560",

language = "English",

volume = "86",

pages = "560--584",

journal = "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology",

issn = "0022-3514",

number = "4",

}

Schmitt, DP, Alcalay, L, Allik, J, Angleitner, A, Ault, L, Austers, I, Bennett, KL, Bianchi, G, Boholst, F, Borg Cunen, MA, Braeckman, J, Brainerd, EG, Caral, LGA, Caron, G, Martina Casullo, M, Cunningham, M, Daibo, I, De Backer, C, De Souza, E, Diaz-Loving, R, Diniz, G, Durkin, K, Echegaray, M, Eremsoy, E, Euler, HA, Falzon, R, Fisher, ML, Foley, D, Fry, DP, Fry, S, Arif Ghayur, M, Golden, DL, Grammer, K, Grimaldi, L, Halberstadt, J, Haque, S, Herrera, D, Hertel, J, Hoffmann, H, Hooper, D, Hradilekova, Z, Hudek-Kene-evi, J, Jaafar, J, Jankauskaite, M, Kabangu-Stahel, H, Kardum, I, Khoury, B, Kwon, H, Laidra, K, Laireiter, AR, Lakerveld, D, Lampert, A, Lauri, M, Lavallée, M, Lee, SJ, Chung Leung, L, Locke, KD, Locke, V, Luksik, I, Magaisa, I, Marcinkeviciene, D, Mata, A, Mata, R, McCarthy, B, Mills, ME, Mkhize, NJ, Moreira, J, Moreira, S, Moya, M, Munyae, M, Noller, P, Opre, A, Panayiotou, A, Petrovic, N, Poels, K, Popper, M, Poulimenou, M, P'yatokha, V, Raymond, M, Reips, UD, Reneau, SE, Rivera-Aragon, S, Rowatt, WC, Ruch, W, Rus, VS, Safir, MP, Salas, S, Sambataro, F, Sandnabba, KN, Schulmeyer, MK, Schütz, A, Scrimali, T, Shackelford, TK, Shaver, PR, Sichona, F, Simonetti, F, Sineshaw, T, Speelman, T, Spyrou, S, Canan Sümer, H, Sümer, N, Supekova, M, Szlendak, T, Taylor, R, Timmermans, B, Tooke, W, Tsaousis, I, Tungaraza, FSK, Vandermassen, G, Vanhoomissen, T, Van Overwalle, F, Vanwesenbeeck, I, Vasey, PL, Verissimo, J, Voracek, M, Wan, WWN, Wang, TW, Weiss, P, Wijaya, A, Woertman, L, Youn, G & Zupanèiè, A 2004, 'Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations: The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 86, no. 4, pp. 560-584. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560

Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations: The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner. / Schmitt, David P.; Alcalay, Lidia; Allik, Jüri et al.
In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 86, No. 4, 04.2004, p. 560-584.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations

T2 - The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner

AU - Schmitt, David P.

AU - Alcalay, Lidia

AU - Allik, Jüri

AU - Angleitner, Alois

AU - Ault, Lara

AU - Austers, Ivars

AU - Bennett, Kevin L.

AU - Bianchi, Gabriel

AU - Boholst, Fredric

AU - Borg Cunen, Mary Ann

AU - Braeckman, Johan

AU - Brainerd, Edwin G.

AU - Caral, Leo Gerard A.

AU - Caron, Gabrielle

AU - Martina Casullo, Maria

AU - Cunningham, Michael

AU - Daibo, Ikuo

AU - De Backer, Charlotte

AU - De Souza, Eros

AU - Diaz-Loving, Rolando

AU - Diniz, Gláucia

AU - Durkin, Kevin

AU - Echegaray, Marcela

AU - Eremsoy, Ekin

AU - Euler, Harald A.

AU - Falzon, Ruth

AU - Fisher, Maryanne L.

AU - Foley, Dolores

AU - Fry, Douglas P.

AU - Fry, Sirspa

AU - Arif Ghayur, M.

AU - Golden, Debra L.

AU - Grammer, Karl

AU - Grimaldi, Liria

AU - Halberstadt, Jamin

AU - Haque, Shamsul

AU - Herrera, Dora

AU - Hertel, Janine

AU - Hoffmann, Heather

AU - Hooper, Danica

AU - Hradilekova, Zuzana

AU - Hudek-Kene-evi, Jasna

AU - Jaafar, Jas

AU - Jankauskaite, Margarita

AU - Kabangu-Stahel, Heidi

AU - Kardum, Igor

AU - Khoury, Brigitte

AU - Kwon, Hayrran

AU - Laidra, Kaia

AU - Laireiter, Anton Rupert

AU - Lakerveld, Dustin

AU - Lampert, Ada

AU - Lauri, Maryanne

AU - Lavallée, Marguerite

AU - Lee, Suk Jae

AU - Chung Leung, Luk

AU - Locke, Kenneth D.

AU - Locke, Vance

AU - Luksik, Ivan

AU - Magaisa, Ishmael

AU - Marcinkeviciene, Dalia

AU - Mata, André

AU - Mata, Rui

AU - McCarthy, Barry

AU - Mills, Michael E.

AU - Mkhize, Nhlanhla J.

AU - Moreira, João

AU - Moreira, Sérgio

AU - Moya, Miguel

AU - Munyae, M.

AU - Noller, Patricia

AU - Opre, Adrian

AU - Panayiotou, Alexia

AU - Petrovic, Nebojsa

AU - Poels, Karolien

AU - Popper, Miroslav

AU - Poulimenou, Maria

AU - P'yatokha, Volodymyr

AU - Raymond, Michel

AU - Reips, Ulf Dietrich

AU - Reneau, Susan E.

AU - Rivera-Aragon, Sofia

AU - Rowatt, Wade C.

AU - Ruch, Willibald

AU - Rus, Velko S.

AU - Safir, Marilyn P.

AU - Salas, Sonia

AU - Sambataro, Fabio

AU - Sandnabba, Kenneth N.

AU - Schulmeyer, Marion K.

AU - Schütz, Astrid

AU - Scrimali, Tullio

AU - Shackelford, Todd K.

AU - Shaver, Phillip R.

AU - Sichona, Francis

AU - Simonetti, Franco

AU - Sineshaw, Tilahun

AU - Speelman, Tom

AU - Spyrou, Spyros

AU - Canan Sümer, H.

AU - Sümer, Nebi

AU - Supekova, Marianna

AU - Szlendak, Tomasz

AU - Taylor, Robin

AU - Timmermans, Bert

AU - Tooke, William

AU - Tsaousis, Ioannis

AU - Tungaraza, F. S.K.

AU - Vandermassen, Griet

AU - Vanhoomissen, Tim

AU - Van Overwalle, Frank

AU - Vanwesenbeeck, Ine

AU - Vasey, Paul L.

AU - Verissimo, João

AU - Voracek, Martin

AU - Wan, Wendy W.N.

AU - Wang, Ta Wei

AU - Weiss, Peter

AU - Wijaya, Andik

AU - Woertman, Liesbeth

AU - Youn, Gahyun

AU - Zupanèiè, Agata

PY - 2004/4

Y1 - 2004/4

N2 - As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 16,954 participants from 53 nations were administered an anonymous survey about experiences with romantic attraction. Mate poaching - romantically attracting someone who is already in a relationship - was most common in Southern Europe, South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe and was relatively infrequent in Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Evolutionary and social-role hypotheses received empirical support. Men were more likely than women to report having made and succumbed to short-term poaching across all regions, but differences between men and women were often smaller in more gender-egalitarian regions. People who try to steal another's mate possess similar personality traits across all regions, as do those who frequently receive and succumb to the poaching attempts by others. The authors conclude that human mate-poaching experiences are universally linked to sex, culture, and the robust influence of personal dispositions.

AB - As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, 16,954 participants from 53 nations were administered an anonymous survey about experiences with romantic attraction. Mate poaching - romantically attracting someone who is already in a relationship - was most common in Southern Europe, South America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe and was relatively infrequent in Africa, South/Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Evolutionary and social-role hypotheses received empirical support. Men were more likely than women to report having made and succumbed to short-term poaching across all regions, but differences between men and women were often smaller in more gender-egalitarian regions. People who try to steal another's mate possess similar personality traits across all regions, as do those who frequently receive and succumb to the poaching attempts by others. The authors conclude that human mate-poaching experiences are universally linked to sex, culture, and the robust influence of personal dispositions.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/1842484267

U2 - 10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560

DO - 10.1037/0022-3514.86.4.560

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:1842484267

SN - 0022-3514

VL - 86

SP - 560

EP - 584

JO - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

JF - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

IS - 4

ER -

Patterns and Universals of Mate Poaching Across 53 Nations: The Effects of Sex, Culture, and Personality on Romantically Attracting Another Person's Partner

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