Kenrick Keefe:Age preferences in mates Buss(1989)found across numerous cultures.We would therefore not expect social status to erase the pattern of WASHINGTONIAN,1989 sex differences found in the other data sets reported above. Actually,some segments of modern American society may provide a reasonable test of these speculations. Compared to women in hunter-gatherer and agrarian societies,contemporary urban professional women are much more equivalent to men in wealth and status. Although this increase in power has not occurred for all women in our society,it is possible to examine women whose personal socioeconomic status exceeds not only the status of most males in other cultures and historical epochs,but also that of the average American man Certain newspapers and magazines,like the New York 450 Review of Books and Washingtonian regularly include MALES AGE FEMALES AGE personal advertisements from women of higher socioeco- Figure 9.Age preferences stated in Washingtonian magazine. nomic status.Consider the following advertisement: with separate plotting for those specifying high SES. Wealthy attractive DWF 49,brown-eyed brunette,5'4"120 Ibs.,wants tall handsome blue-eyed monogamous unmarried ing no differences between the social class groups for the gentleman,no dependents,50-65 for long term relationship. highest age preferred.5 (Washingtonian,June 1989) In summary,the interaction between gender and age We analyzed advertisements in Washingtonian maga- persists even among those at the highest levels of income. zine that indicated a minimum and/or a maximum age Wealth does have a weak effect on preferences for youth. preferred in a partner and that specified the age of the That effect is independent of gender,so that the differen- advertiser.In addition,we coded the ads in terms of tial gender pattern remains among wealthy individuals information related to the advertiser's wealth and social Unlike older men,wealthy older women are still in- status(hereafter SES).The analysis divided advertisers terested in men their own age and older,but as they grow into those who specified that:(1)they were wealthy or had older,wealthy people of both sexes show a relatively a professional occupation(physician,lawyer,etc.),or(2) lower "floor"in the ages in which they are interested. no information or specific mention that they were not wealthy or in a relatively low-paying occupation (e.g., 9.Discussion clerical or secretary).Relatively more males than females listed themselves as wealthy or professional.Out of 182 men,129 reported themselves as high SES,versus 84 out The data we have presented indicate that age preferences are more complex than earlier social psychological mod- of 184 women.Results including this variable are de- els led us to expect.Earlier studies suggested a simple picted in Figure 9. relationship:Males seek younger females and females As indicated in this figure,the basic sex difference seek older males.Our results are consistent with half of found in the earlier studies also obtained in this study. that generalization;females tend to seek males who are Specifically,there was the predicted gender x decade interaction for both maximum (F,3,365 18.42,p slightly older than they are.For males,however,the preference for younger females is weak or nonexistent .001)and minimum age differences (F.4,369 12.07,p during early years,but becomes increasingly pronounced <.001).There was also a two-way interaction of wealth with age and decade(F,3,365=3.083,p<.05).This interaction Previous authors,although failing to note the develop- indicated that the two SES groups showed an increasing mental variations in the gender discrepancy in age prefer- discrepancy as they aged.This is consistent with the idea ence,observed that the basic age discrepancy seemed that wealthier people indicate more interest in relative somewhat irrational economically.As Cameron et al. youth as they grow older.A three-way interaction would (1977)note,"since the average age of the women adver- have indicated that the sex x decade interaction was tisers was over 9 years older than that desired by male different for high SES versus low/no info subjects.There advertisers,a serious problem of matching is evident." was no three-way interaction for either maximum or Bolig et al.(1984)likewise note,"The men who placed minimum age differences preferred (both Fs<1.30,ps> profiles in this magazine were not looking for the women 25).For exploratory purposes,we nevertheless exam- who placed profiles (nor were the women looking for ined the data separately by gender and social class. these men)."The preferences ofolder females indicate an Neither women nor men showed a significant interaction interest in males who are themselves interested in much of wealth and decade for either the high or low preferred younger women.Given the general tendency for males to difference.Consistent with the two-way interaction re- prefer younger females,however,the older females may ported above,however,there was a similar marginal tendency toward a decade by wealth interaction for both be following a somewhat"rational"strategy.On the other hand,if the goal of these advertisements is simply to men(F,4,170=2.10,p<,09)and women(F,3,191= maximize the probability of acquiring a partner,males 2.39,p<.08)on the lowest age preferred.The analogous F's for the high differences were both less than 1,suggest- would fare better by expressing an interest in females in their own age range,as well as in younger females.Given BEHAVIORAL AND BRAIN SCIENCES (1992)15:1