By: Jessica Salony

The Similarity between the Physical and Personality Traits of One’s Opposite Sex Sibling, Cousin, and Hypothetical Ideal Romantic Partner

Existing literature introduces the theory of sexual imprinting, where women possibly seek men who resemble their fathers and men possibly seek women who resemble their mothers (Marcinkowska & Rantala, 2012).

“Assortative Mating” is defined as a concept where individuals mate based on their similarity, or shared common characteristics. These professionals have found that, individuals are more likely to marry those who share traits and interests than those who exhibit opposite characteristics (Buss, 1985).

Researchers found that females valued the characteristics of socioeconomic status, positive family background, kindness, gentleness, and considerateness more than males. Males valued the characteristics of physical attractiveness, beauty, fragility, and housekeeping skills more than females (Thiessen & Gregg, 1980).

Introduction

Cognitive kin-recognition studies find that when an individual recognizes their sibling, this leads to incest avoidance. The neural circuitry of the brain detects genetic relatedness and triggers a sexual aversion to other kin (Lieberman et. al., 2003).

A brother-sister incest aversion scale was created to assess the magnitude of the Oedipal Complex among siblings instead of parent-child desires. It showed that males displayed less aversion and more variability in incest aversion than females (Arndt & Ladd, 1981).

Researchers studied whether males and females, who are in close proximity and share social interactions, are either drawn towards or away from mating with one another. The Westermarck Effect (1891) is the concept where early childhood social interaction and physical proximity makes a negative impact on sexual interest in later adulthood.

Introduction

To evaluate whether specific personality and appearance traits of one’s opposite sex sibling and cousin are similar to the traits we

desire in an ideal romantic partner.

1) Females will show greater variability than males in how they perceive their sibling/ideal and cousin/ideal.

2) Males will evaluate appearance traits of opposite sex sibling/ideal as being more similar than females.

3) Females will evaluate personality traits of opposite sex sibling/ideal as being more similar than males.

4) Due to the Westermarck effect, people will see greater similarity between cousin/ideal than sibling/ideal in both appearance and personality traits (i.e., incest avoidance).

5) Regarding relationship status, participants will see greater similarity between cousin/ideal than sibling/ideal.

6) There will be no significant differences if someone cheated on their partner or has been cheated on in the past.

7) If a female or male is going through a break-up, there will be significant differences between sibling/ideal than cousin/ideal.

Hypotheses

2 x 2 x 2 Mixed ANOVA

Independent Variable #1

Sex of Participant

Male Female

Independent Variable #2

Evaluated Trait

Physical

Personality

Independent Variable #3

Relationship of

Similarity

Sibling/Ideal

Cousin/Ideal

Statistical Design

Participants (M = 32, F = 88), M= 19.1571% European American 50.8% Freshmen

50% In a Relationship 42% Single 28% Casual Dating77.5% Cheated On 76.7% Cheater 79.2% Going through a

Break-up

Method

Measures for Females

Measures for Males

Measures for All

Measures for All

3

3.4

3.8

4.2

4.6

Results: Main Effects

Dependent Variables: 10 Personality Traits

Desi

red T

rait

Results: Kinship Effects

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

Sibling

Cousin Ideal Partner

Cre

ati

vit

y M

ean

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.8

5

5.2

Cheater Faithful

Fait

hfu

lness

Mean

Single

Casual

Relationship

Results: Kinship Effects

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4

4.2

4.4

4.6

Sibling

Cousin Ideal Partner

Inte

llig

en

ce

Mean

Single Casual Relationship

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4

4.2

4.4

Cheater

Faithful

Inte

lligence

M

ean

Regardless if you’re a (1) male or female,(2) single, casually dating, in a relationship,

(3) have cheated on your partner or been cheated on before, your sibling is closer to your

hypothetical ideal partner in intelligence.

In order from most desired traits least desired traits: faithfulness, trust, humor, kindness, intelligence, health, excitement, creativity, adaptability, and spirituality for all participants.

Whether someone is single, casually dating, or in a relationship, their siblings are closer to their ideal when it comes to the personality trait of faithfulness.

For those who have cheated before, their cousin is closer to their ideal partner in creativity. For those who have remained faithful to their partners, their siblings are closer to their creative ideal partner.

Not supporting the Westermarck Effect or my prediction, participants were not more similar to their cousin/ideal than sibling/ideal overall. Why? If you were to see someone who resembles your

sibling, “naturally” you would avoid having an romantic relationship with them

Discussion

Large Sample SizeAdds to Existing

ResearchClear Operational

Definitions

Subject DistributionMeasure EfficiencyMisinterpretation of

Directions

Due to limitations of space and time, only

the Relationship, Cheating, and

Personality Measures will be described and discussed.