The Role of Overconfidence in Romantic Desirability and Competition

Authored by Sean C Murphy, Hippel William von, Shelli L Dubbs, Jr Michael J Angilletta, Robbie S Wilson, Robert Trivers, Fiona Kate Barlow

Date Published: 2015

DOI: 10.1177/0146167215588754

Sponsors: Australian Research Council (ARC)

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

Four studies and a computer simulation tested the hypothesis that people who are overconfident in their self-assessments may be more successful in attracting mates. In Study 1, overconfident people were perceived as more confident in their dating profiles, and this perceived confidence predicted increased romantic desirability. Study 2 revealed that overconfident people also tend to be perceived as arrogant, which counteracts the positive effects of perceived confidence. However, Study 3 revealed that overconfidence might confer an advantage in intrasexual competition, as people were less likely to compete with overconfident individuals by virtue of their perceived confidence and arrogance. Study 4 showed that overconfident raters were also more likely to choose to compete for romantic partners. In Study 5, agent-based modeling incorporating the coefficients from these studies suggested that overconfidence facilitates mate acquisition in the presence of intrasexual competition.

Tags

Evolution preferences Choice Consequences Self-enhancement Mate selection Ability Confidence