Mate retention Strategies, Self-Esteem, Mate Value and Facial Attractiveness Disparity in Brazil and in the UK

This study compared mate retention strategies (MRS) in Brazil and in the UK, testing whether culture moderates the association between MRS and self-evaluated variables (e.g. mate value). Our findings demonstrated that women’s MRS varied cross-culturally, with Brazilian women reporting to perform MRS more often than British women. Men’s MRS did not vary between cultures. Additionally, culture moderated the association between MRS frequency and facial attractiveness disparity (the difference in attractiveness between partners) and mate value. This study presents initial evidence on the influence of culture on the frequency of MRS and its role in the association between self-evaluation and strategies designed to retain a partner.