Individual differences in talking enjoyment: The roles of life history strategy and mate value

Abstract

The present research explored the possibility that individual differences in talking enjoyment may play a role in human reproduction, such as mate advertising in humans. Prior research on talking has tended to focus on sex differences in the amount of talking. We present a new self-report measure to assess individual differences in talking enjoyment and explore its relationships with self-perceived mate value and life history strategy. In Study 1, we assessed talking enjoyment with an 11-item talking enjoyment questionnaire and found that (a) women’s average talking enjoyment and Mini-K ratings were significantly higher than men’s; (b) talking enjoyment was predicted by life history strategy as measured by and self-rated mate value; and (c) the relationship between sex and talking enjoyment was mediated by life history strategy. In Study 2, we replicated the results of Study 1 with a revised eight-item talking enjoyment questionnaire after confirming its test-retest reliability. The results provide new insights into individual differences in talking enjoyment. Directions for future research on the relationship talking behavior and mate selection in humans are discussed.

Keywords:

• talking
• life history strategy
• mate value
• sex differences

Public Interest Statement

The research explored whether individual differences in talking enjoyment are related to processes involved in human reproduction. Prior research on individual differences in talking has focused on sex differences, with studies yielding conflicting results. We developed a new questionnaire designed to measure individual differences in talking enjoyment. In two studies, we tested the hypotheses that (a) those who enjoy talking perceive themselves as good mates and (b) follow a reproductive strategy in which reproduction is delayed and resources and effort are invested into social mobility (also called slow life history strategy). In Study 1, we assessed talking enjoyment with an 11-item questionnaire. In Study 2, we assessed talking enjoyment with a revised eight-item questionnaire. The results of both studies confirmed the hypotheses. Further, the results showed that the difference in women’s and men’s talking enjoyment was mediated by life history strategy, as, on average, men tend to follow a faster reproductive strategy than women and also tend to enjoy talking less than women.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interest.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shelia M. Kennison

Shelia M. Kennison received her PhD in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In addition to numerous research reports, she is the author of the textbook Introduction to Language Development published by Sage in 2013 and the forthcoming Psychology of Language to be published by Palgrave in 2017.

Jennifer Byrd-Craven

Jennifer Byrd-Craven received her PhD in Evolutionary Psychology from the University of Missouri in Columbia. Her research focuses on the impact of social dynamics on the activity of the stress response systems, which are known to be affected by the quality of the parent-child relationship.

Stacey L. Hamilton

Stacey L. Hamilton is an undergraduate student in the Department of Psychology program at Oklahoma State University. Her interests are in evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience.