Why are leading actors matched w. costars 1/2 their age?

Why are leading actors matched w. costars 1/2 their age?

Best Actor/Actress 2008: Sean Penn - 47Kate Winslet - 32

Best Actor/Actress 2007: Daniel Day Lewis - 49Marion Cotillard - 31

Romantic movies: Eternal Sunshine - 2004Jim Carey - 41; Kate Winslet - 28

Romantic movies: Gone with the Wind - 1939Clark Gable - 37; Vivien Leigh - 25

Casa Blanca - 1939Bogart - 43; Ingrid Bergman - 24

Academy Awards 1929 -- 2008 Mean age of best actress - 34Mean age of best actor - 43

Hypothesis: People magazine speculates: Hollywood directors (often older males) “trying to relive their youth”Implies something special about Hollywood, but

TROPHY WIFE TROPHY WIFE SYNDROME SYNDROME Phoenix Gazette: Phoenix Gazette:

““Growing trend among Growing trend among powerful chief powerful chief executivesexecutives

..discarding long-..discarding long-standing spouses for standing spouses for ‘trophy wives’ – ‘trophy wives’ – women typically women typically younger …beautiful younger …beautiful and very often and very often accomplished.”accomplished.”

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MALE'S AGEMALE'S AGE FEMALE'S AGEFEMALE'S AGE

DIFFERENCE FROM

DIFFERENCE FROM

CEO'S AGE

CEO'S AGE

From From FortuneFortune magazine magazine

Female CEO’s Female CEO’s husbands husbands 4.5 yrs. older 4.5 yrs. older

Male CEO’s Male CEO’s wives wives progressively progressively younger younger

Sociologist Arthur Neal (quoted in Gazette): Our cultural image of a mature man is typically in his late 40s or 50s…successful in his career.…ideal female - 20s or early 30s…This should come as no surprise at all, we live in an advertising culture...

Hypothesis: Phenomenon attributable to our cultureImplies something special about American society

How do “experts” come up with their opinions on topics like this?

What kinds of evidence do we need to determine whether those opinions are right or wrong?

SocioculturalSocioculturalSocioculturalSociocultural

EvolutionaryEvolutionaryEvolutionaryEvolutionary

Social LearningSocial LearningSocial LearningSocial Learning

Social CognitiveSocial CognitiveSocial CognitiveSocial Cognitive

Major Theoretical PerspectivesMajor Theoretical Perspectives

Sociocultural Perspective

What drives social behavior?

• Forces in larger social groups such as:

• norms within cultural groups

• social class differences

• nationality/ethnicity

• fads

Young Tibetan Bride (on right) with 3 of 5 brothers she married

Sociocultural theorists might ask:

• What are the differences in What are the differences in social behavior across social behavior across cultures?cultures?

• For example, women in For example, women in some societies marry more some societies marry more than one man (polyandry)than one man (polyandry)

Norms about racism Norms about racism have varied across have varied across historical periodshistorical periods

• In parts of the United In parts of the United States during the States during the 1950s, anti-black 1950s, anti-black prejudice was prejudice was expressed openlyexpressed openly

Social norms: rules and expectations for appropriate social behavior.

Sociocultural Perspective

Culture: beliefs, customs, habits, and language shared by the people living in a particular time and place.

American culture teaches children to cherish their own individual choice and independence

Culture, Choice, and Intrinsic Motivation

esearch


esearch

But Asian culture emphasizes more collective values – viewing the self as interdependent with family and social group.

In one study, researchers asked Anglo-American and Asian-American children to solve word puzzles that were either:

• Chosen by the child (Personal Choice)• Chosen by the experimenter• Chosen by the child’s mom


esearch

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Personal Choice

Personal Choice

Iyengar & Lepper, 1999esearchesearch

Experimenter Choice

Experimenter Choice

But Asian-American children were more

motivated when their mothers had

chosen the task

But Asian-American children were more

motivated when their mothers had

chosen the task

Number of Word

Puzzles Completed

Number of Word

Puzzles Completed

Anglo American

Anglo American Personal choice

boosted motivation for Anglo-

American children

Personal choice boosted motivation

for Anglo-American children

Asian American

Asian American

Mom ChoiceMom

Choice

Cultural Norms & Romance

Japanese - 1st kiss age 20Americans - heavy petting @ 16Aussie women want 4 sexual partners,

Asian women less than 2

Cultural Norms & Romance

Cultural norms can influence romantic behaviors

But do they explain “trophy wife syndrome?”

Evolutionary PerspectiveWhat drives social behavior?Genetic predispositions to

respond in adaptive ways to particular events in the environment.

Evolutionary PerspectiveSuch as: Tendency to

quickly detect an angry face

580 msec if it’s a woman, 540 msec if it’s a man,

• Evolutionary theorists might ask:

Are there similarities in social behavior across species?

• Evolutionary theorists might ask:

Are there similarities in social behavior across species?

Female birds Female birds mate mate polygynously polygynously when male when male territories are territories are highly highly variable;variable;

Only a small Only a small %age of %age of males mate males mate w. > than 1 w. > than 1 femalefemale

Evolutionary theorists might also ask:

What are the similarities across cultures?

Evolutionary theorists might also ask:

What are the similarities across cultures?

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DIFFERENCE FROM

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TARGET'S AGE

TARGET'S AGE

Oldest preferredOldest preferred

Youngest preferredYoungest preferred

Kenrick, Gabrielidis, Keefe, & Cornelius,Child Development (1996).

Kenrick & Keefe, Behavioral & Brain Sciences, (1992).

EVOLUTIONARY LIFE EVOLUTIONARY LIFE HISTORY MODEL:HISTORY MODEL:

All Men interested in All Men interested in women in years of peak women in years of peak fertility.fertility.

For old men = younger.For old men = younger.

For young men = older.For young men = older.

• • WHAT UNDERLIES WHAT UNDERLIES “TROPHY WIFE” “TROPHY WIFE” SYNDROME?SYNDROME?

IF CULTURE -- SHOULD VARY IF CULTURE -- SHOULD VARY WITH SOCIETY AND WITH SOCIETY AND HISTORICAL CHANGE.HISTORICAL CHANGE.

IF HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE IF HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE LIFE SPAN -- CONSISTENT LIFE SPAN -- CONSISTENT ACROSS CULTURES.ACROSS CULTURES.

HOW TO DISTINGUISH HOW TO DISTINGUISH EVOLUTIONARY vs EVOLUTIONARY vs

CULTURAL CULTURAL EXPLANATIONS?EXPLANATIONS?

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TARGET'S AGE

NetherlandsNetherlands


(TIMES OF INDIA, BOMBAY, SUNDAY, JAN. (TIMES OF INDIA, BOMBAY, SUNDAY, JAN. 29, 1989): 29, 1989): WANTED: WANTED: A NON-BHARADWAJ A NON-BHARADWAJ SMART GOOD-LOOKING PREFERABLY SMART GOOD-LOOKING PREFERABLY EMPLOYED KERALA IYER GIRL EMPLOYED KERALA IYER GIRL BELOW 25 FOR A KERALA IYER BOY BELOW 25 FOR A KERALA IYER BOY 29. CHEMICAL ENGINEER. CONTACT 29. CHEMICAL ENGINEER. CONTACT WITH HOROSCOPE.WITH HOROSCOPE.

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TARGET'S AGE

IndiaIndia


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TARGET'S AGE

Poro - 1913-1929Poro - 1913-1929


1st wife - 1st wife - Catherine of Catherine of AragonAragon

Henry - 17, Henry - 17, Catherine - early Catherine - early 20s20s

Last wife, when Last wife, when Henry 51, was 20 Henry 51, was 20 years younger.years younger.

Henry b. 1492Henry b. 1492

HENRY VIIIHENRY VIII

90 yrs. old, this is his 21st, with 90 yrs. old, this is his 21st, with 4th wife. 4th wife.

Worlds’s oldest father, Aug. 20, 2007

Worlds’s oldest father, Aug. 20, 2007

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DIFFERENCE FROM

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TARGET'S AGE

1600s1600s

1700s1700s

Kenrick, Nieuweboer & Buunk (unpublished)

1800s1800s

1980s ads1980s adsNetherlanNetherlandsds

N=2N=2

N=8N=8

Widows with farms Widows with farms would marry younger would marry younger men;men;

The women got needed The women got needed assistance;assistance;

Men elevated their Men elevated their position in societyposition in society

One possible One possible explanation:explanation:

Tiwi of North AustraliaTiwi of North Australia

But society is polygynousBut society is polygynous

Powerful older men Powerful older men monopolize all young bridesmonopolize all young brides

All women must marryAll women must marry

Powerful men betroth young Powerful men betroth young daughters to other daughters to other patriarchspatriarchs

Tiwi men actually place very Tiwi men actually place very high value on young wiveshigh value on young wives

““To get a start in life as a household To get a start in life as a household head and thus to get his foot on the head and thus to get his foot on the first rung of the prestige ladder, a Tiwi first rung of the prestige ladder, a Tiwi man in his thirties had first of all to get man in his thirties had first of all to get himself married to an elderly widow, himself married to an elderly widow, preferably one with married daughterspreferably one with married daughters

……The widow did several things for him. The widow did several things for him. She became his food provider and She became his food provider and housekeeper. She served as a link to housekeeper. She served as a link to ally him with her sons. As her ally him with her sons. As her husband, he acquired some rights in husband, he acquired some rights in the future remarriages of her the future remarriages of her daughters when they became daughters when they became widowed.”widowed.” (Hart & Pillig, 1960, p. 25) (Hart & Pillig, 1960, p. 25)

Trophy wifes in light of data:Trophy wifes in light of data:

Attraction to younger “trophy” Attraction to younger “trophy” wives not something unique wives not something unique to CEOs, ie to people to CEOs, ie to people exposed to American exposed to American advertisements, advertisements,

Not a result of cultural Not a result of cultural influencesinfluences

Instead, probably linked to life Instead, probably linked to life span differences in fertilityspan differences in fertility

Natural Selection

• Animals with features suited to demands of environment will survive better than those with less well-adapted features.

• Those well-adapted animals will reproduce more successfully.

Kin Selection

• Animals are predisposed to help

those who share genes by common

descent

• Nepotism

Inclusive Fitness

• Fitness formerly defined by number of surviving offspring

• But some animals do not reproduce (e.g. most female bees & ants)

Inclusive Fitness

• Can enhance fitness by

contributing to survival

of kin

• Inclusive = surviving

genes in offspring +

relatives you helpedWhite-fronted bee-eater

On a 100 point scale (with 100 being warmest), how do you feel towards:

• Father’s father

• Father’s mother

• Mother’s father

• Mother’s mother

9090

8080

7070

Paternal Paternal

Latham et al., 2005esearchesearch

MaternalMaternal

Researchers attributed this to

paternal uncertainty

Researchers attributed this to

paternal uncertainty

Feeling Thermo-

meter

Feeling Thermo-

meter

GrandfatherGrandfatherStudents felt least close to

father’s father

Students felt least close to

father’s father GrandmotherGrandmother

Parental Investment TheoryParental Investment Theory

Sex contributing more resources Sex contributing more resources to offspring to offspring (usually female)(usually female) – – more selective in mate choice.more selective in mate choice.

Other sex Other sex (usually males)(usually males) – – compete amongst themselves compete amongst themselves for access to more selective for access to more selective partners.partners.

Evolutionary Perspective

What’s minimum percentile of intelligence you’d accept in considering someone for:

DATE

SEXUAL PARTNER

1 NIGHT STAND

STEADY DATING PARTNER

MARRIAGE PARTNERKenrick, Sadalla, Groth, & Trost (1990) Journal of Personality

Kenrick, Groth, Trost & Sadalla (1993) J. Personality & Social Psychology


DATEDATE SEXSEX MARRIAGEMARRIAGESTEADYSTEADY

50th50th%ile%ile

Minimum Minimum IntelligencIntelligence Desirede Desired


DATEDATE SEXSEX STEADYSTEADY MARRIAGEMARRIAGE

50th50th%ile%ile


DATEDATE SEXSEX STEADYSTEADY MARRIAGEMARRIAGE

50th50th%ile%ile


“Excuse me, I’ve seen you around campus, and I find you attractive. Would you like to go out with me?”

“Excuse me, I’ve seen you around campus, and I find you attractive. Would you like to go up to my room?”

Excuse me, I’ve seen you around campus, and I find you attractive. Would you like to go to bed with me?”

Clark & Hatfield (1989)


0

20

40

60

80

MaleFemale

SUBJECT SEX

GO OUT

GO TO APT.

GO TO BED

PERCENT SAYING "YES" 100

Clark and Hatfield (1989)

Sexual Selection

Animals with features that promote reproduction by

• Attracting opposite sex

• Dominating same sex

will reproduce more successfully.


Male

s

EVER CONSIDERED KILLING ANOTHEREVER CONSIDERED KILLING ANOTHER

00 1010 2020 3030 4040 5050 6060 7070 8080 9090 100100

Fem

ale

sNever FrequentlyOccasionally

Kenrick & Sheets (1994). Homicidal Fantasies. Ethology & Sociobiology, 14, 231-246

Phalarope females larger & more competitive / males. Why?


Species like phalaropes exception that proves the rule:

Sex making higher investment (usu. but not always females)-- more selective

Other sex competes for mating opportunities.


Social Learning PerspectiveWhat drives social behavior?Classically conditioned

preferencessuch as

• Feeling of fear at sight of person who hit you

Social Learning PerspectiveWhat drives social behavior?Classically conditioned preferences

such as

• Feeling of fear at sight of person who hit you

(Operant conditioning) Habits rewarded by other peoplesuch as• Boy who fights frequently after

father praised him for winning fight w. neighborhood bully.

Social Learning PerspectiveWhat drives social behavior?Social Learning PerspectiveWhat drives social behavior?

Social Learning PerspectiveWhat drives social behavior?Social Learning PerspectiveWhat drives social behavior?

Observation of models rewarded.

such as

• Buying gun after seeing movie in which hero gets girl after shooting several dozen people.

Space BlasterSpace Blaster

Doomsday Version 2.5

Does playing violent video

games increase aggressiveness?

Learning Violence From Video Games

• One team of researchers hypothesized - violent video games may make aggression rewarding, by allowing person to win points for killing & maiming human-like opponents (Anderson & Dill, 2000)

esearch

• In experiment, students 1st played violent video game (Wulfenstein) or nonviolent game (Tetrix)

• They played a competitive game in which they could retaliate against real opponents by delivering unpleasantly loud blasts of noise

esearch

Learning Violence From Video Games

8585

8080

Nonviolent Nonviolent

Anderson & Dill, 2000esearchesearch

ViolentViolent

Retaliatory Aggression (unpleasant noise level)

Retaliatory Aggression (unpleasant noise level)

Students who played a

violent video game

demonstrated significantly

higher levels of retaliatory aggression

Students who played a

violent video game

demonstrated significantly

higher levels of retaliatory aggression

Type of Videogame Type of Videogame

What drives social behavior?• What we pay attention to• How we interpret and judge

social situations• What we retrieve from

memory

What drives social behavior?• What we pay attention to• How we interpret and judge

social situations• What we retrieve from

memory

Social Cognitive Perspective

2525

ControlControl

Estimated% Highly Attractive

Estimated% Highly Attractive

Attention-Limited

Attention-Limited

5050

4545

4040

3535

3030

Male TargetsMale Targets

Female Targets Female Targets

00

Male PsMale Ps Female PsFemale Ps

6565

6060

5555

5050

4545

Male Targets

Male Targets

Female Targets

Female Targets

% time on attrphotos

Recognition MemoryRecognition Memory

Participants shown single photos

Male vs. FemaleAttractive vs.

Average Later shown old

photosPlus new ones not

shown before

Participants shown single photos

Male vs. FemaleAttractive vs.

Average Later shown old

photosPlus new ones not

shown before

Male Participants

AverageAverage AttractiveAttractive

6.06.0

5.55.5

5.05.0

Male TargetsMale Targets

Female Targets Female Targets R

eco

gnit

ion

Female ParticipantsMale TargetsMale Targets

Female Targets Female Targets

AttractiveAttractive

Females did not selectively

remember the attractive men

Females did not selectively

remember the attractive men

AverageAverage

6.06.0

5.55.5

5.05.0

Reco

gnit

ion

Both sexes are biased to look at attractive people

Both sexes are biased to look at attractive people

Women attend to, but do not seem to remember attractive men

Men & women attend to, remember, & overestimate attractive women

Women attend to, but do not seem to remember attractive men

Men & women attend to, remember, & overestimate attractive women

Attention and Memory

Attention and Memory

Biased Interpretation

Biased Interpretation

Participants shown single photosMale vs. Female

Attractive vs. Average Black vs. White

All posed & pre-rated for neutral expressions

Participants shown single photosMale vs. Female

Attractive vs. Average Black vs. White

All posed & pre-rated for neutral expressions

Told people in photos previously thinking emotional thoughts

Task --> read face for subtle emotional cuesBefore seeing photos

Participants watched one of 3 films

Told people in photos previously thinking emotional thoughts

Task --> read face for subtle emotional cuesBefore seeing photos

Participants watched one of 3 films

QuickTime™ and aMPEG-4 Video decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Self-protectionSelf-protection

Romance

Control

Perceived Anger in Black Male

Targets

Perceived Anger in Black Male

Targets

4.04.0

3.03.0

2.02.0

ControlControl Self-protection

Self-protection

Perceived Sexual Arousal

in Attractiv

e Opposite

Sex Targets

Perceived Sexual Arousal

in Attractiv

e Opposite

Sex Targets

ControlControl RomanticRomantic

5.05.0

4.04.0

3.03.0

Male ParticipantsMale ParticipantsFemale

ParticipantsFemale

Participants

SOCIAL COGNITIONSOCIAL COGNITION

Interpretation of sexual arousal biased in line w. parental

investment theory

Interpretation of sexual arousal biased in line w. parental

investment theory Only men “project” sexual

feelings, - specifically onto attractive women

Female & male Ps both felt romantic feelings after film

But female judgments of strangers unaffected

Only men “project” sexual feelings, - specifically onto

attractive womenFemale & male Ps both felt

romantic feelings after filmBut female judgments of strangers

unaffected

Sociocultural

Perspective

Evolutionary

What Drives Social Behavior?

Social Learning

Social Cognitive

Forces in larger social groups e.g.: norms, fads, social

class, ethnic identity,

Sociocultural

Perspective

Evolutionary


Social Learning

Social Cognitive

Genetic predispositions /

promoted ancestors’ survival &

reproduction, such as: bond betw. parent & child

Sociocultural

Perspective

Evolutionary


Social Learning

Social Cognitive

• • Classically Classically conditioned conditioned preferencespreferences

• HabitsHabits rewarded by others;

• Imitation• Imitation of behavior we’ve seen rewarded in others

Sociocultural

Perspective

Evolutionary


Social Social LearningLearning

Social Cognitive

What we pay pay attentionattention to;

How we interpretinterpret & judgejudge social sits.; What we retrieve

from memorymemory

Sociocultural

Perspective

Evolutionary


Social Learning

Social Social CognitiveCognitive

Theories not independent alternatives

Theories not independent alternatives

• Social behavior NOT caused EITHER by culture, evolved mechanisms, learning, OR cognition

• All these factors INTERACT

• Social behavior NOT caused EITHER by culture, evolved mechanisms, learning, OR cognition

• All these factors INTERACT

Basic Principles of Social Behavior

Basic Principles of Social Behavior

• Social behavior is goal oriented.

• Continual interaction betw. person & situation.

• Social behavior is goal oriented.

• Continual interaction betw. person & situation.

• At surface level, we have many day-to-day goals.– Go Shopping

– Study for a test

– Get a date for Saturday night.

– Etc.

• At surface level, we have many day-to-day goals.– Go Shopping

– Study for a test

– Get a date for Saturday night.

– Etc.

Social Behavior is Goal OrientedSocial Behavior is Goal Oriented

Social Behavior is Goal OrientedSocial Behavior is Goal OrientedAt broadest level, we can categorize social

goals into fundamental motives-At broadest level, we can categorize social

goals into fundamental motives-

To establish social tiesTo establish social ties

To understand ourselves and othersTo understand ourselves and others

To gain and maintain statusTo gain and maintain status

To defend ourselves and those we valueTo defend ourselves and those we value

To attract and retain matesTo attract and retain mates

Person - Situation InteractionsPerson - Situation Interactions

By person psychologists mean characteristics individuals carry into social situations

By person psychologists mean characteristics individuals carry into social situations

By situation - environmental events or circumstances outside person

By situation - environmental events or circumstances outside person

Interaction - persons & situations influence one another in # ways

Interaction - persons & situations influence one another in # ways

1. Different persons respond differently 1. Different persons respond differently to the same situationto the same situation

1. Different persons respond differently 1. Different persons respond differently to the same situationto the same situation

The Interaction Between the Person and the Situation


Example: Some people perceive friendliness as flirtation; others perceive flirtation as friendliness.

Example: Some people perceive friendliness as flirtation; others perceive flirtation as friendliness.

2. Situations Choose the Person2. Situations Choose the Person2. Situations Choose the Person2. Situations Choose the Person



Not everyone gets to enter every situation they would like.

Example: • West Point doesn’t admit all.

• Dominant, agreeable men more likely chosen for relationships over submissive, disagreeable ones.

Not everyone gets to enter every situation they would like.

Example: • West Point doesn’t admit all.

• Dominant, agreeable men more likely chosen for relationships over submissive, disagreeable ones.

3. Persons Choose Their Situations3. Persons Choose Their Situations3. Persons Choose Their Situations3. Persons Choose Their Situations



Example: • One person would pay dearly to go bungee-jumping; another would pay dearly to avoid.

• Men, elderly, & high self-esteem people less likely to seek out help.

Example: • One person would pay dearly to go bungee-jumping; another would pay dearly to avoid.

• Men, elderly, & high self-esteem people less likely to seek out help.

4. Different Situations Prime Different 4. Different Situations Prime Different Parts of the same PersonParts of the same Person

4. Different Situations Prime Different 4. Different Situations Prime Different Parts of the same PersonParts of the same Person



Example: Around your professor, you may show your intellectual side; Around an old friend who did not go to college; you may suppress it.

Example: Around your professor, you may show your intellectual side; Around an old friend who did not go to college; you may suppress it.

5. Persons Change The Situation5. Persons Change The Situation5. Persons Change The Situation5. Persons Change The Situation



Example: A highly extraverted person can change a boring party into the social event of the season.

Example: A highly extraverted person can change a boring party into the social event of the season.

6. Situations Change the Person6. Situations Change the Person6. Situations Change the Person6. Situations Change the Person



Example: After four years of college, any proclivity to get in fist fights will likely decrease.

Example: After four years of college, any proclivity to get in fist fights will likely decrease.

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Why are leading actors matched w. costars 1/2 their age?