Fluctuating asymmetry, sociosexuality, and intrasexual competitive tactics

Heterosexual men and women were told they were competing with another same- sex individual for a date with an attractive opposite-sex interviewer. Afte r answering 6 questions, participants were asked to tell the competitor why the interviewer should choose them over the competitor. Participants' vide otaped behavior was coded for different behavioral tactics. Men who were mo re symmetrical and who had a more unrestricted sociosexual orientation were more likely to use direct: competition tactics than were less symmetrical and restricted men. Restricted men accentuated their positive personal qual ities, presenting themselves as "nice guys." Structural equation modeling r evealed that fluctuating asymmetry (FA) was directly associated with the us e of direct competition tactics. However, the link between FA and presentin g oneself as a nice guy was mediated through sociosexuality. No effects wer e found for women.