THE DARK TRIAD, SOCIOSEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND PERCEPTIONS OF MALE ATTRACTIVENESS: INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL CONTEXT

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the Dark Triad traits (Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism) and sociosexual orientation on the assessment of an unfamiliar man's attractiveness within three social scenarios: solitary, accompanied by a dog, and accompanied by a baby. A sample of 109 female participants (N=109) contributed attractiveness ratings, with an average age of 21.06 (SD = 3.81). The findings reveal notable discrepancies in attractiveness ratings across conditions, with higher attractiveness ratings given to the dog condition compared to the baby condition. The ANCOVA integrating Dark Triad traits as covariates exhibited statistical significance, with Machiavellianism emerging as a significant covariate with attractiveness ratings, whereas Sociosexual Orientation did not achieve covariate significance. The implications of these results are contextualized within the existing literature, offering insights into the potential influence of Machiavellianism on attractiveness perceptions and the role of contextual cues in the perceptions of others.