The Effect of Sexual Orientation on Preferences for Altruism in Human Mate Choice

The role of altruism in mate choice is a well-researched area in evolutionary psychology. Same-sex sexual attraction (SSSA) is an under-researched area and is not covered in research exploring the role of altruism in mate choice. To begin addressing this gap, we explored the effect of sexual orientation on preferences for altruism in mate choice. We recruited heterosexual and homosexual participants (N = 321) to complete two scales assessing attractiveness of a potential partner who completed altruistic actions and secondly, participants were asked to rate how altruistic they are on an individual basis. There was no significant effect of sexual orientation on the desirability of altruism in a potential mate, demonstrating that those who act altruistic are desirable, regardless of sexual orientation. However, gender and self-rated altruism were found to have a statistically significant effect on the desirability of a potential mate. Limitations and future directions of research are also discussed.