AHMAD M. ALGHRAIBEH, GHADA K EID, NAJEH R. ALSALHI
DOI: https://doi.org/This study explored mate retention tactics employed in Saudi Arabia. A sample of 375 respondents (220 female; mean age = 35.62 years) completed the Mate Retention Inventory and Revised NEO-Personality Inventory, which were modified to the Arab culture. Multiple regression analyses examined relationships between each mate retention tactic and the Big Five model of personality, relationship commitment status, age, and gender. Women were significantly more likely to employ nine types of mate retention tactics: direct guarding, concealment of mate, time monopolization, commitment manipulation, possessive ornamentation, violence against rivals, public signals of possession, and verbal signals of possession. Men were significantly more likely to employ three types of tactics: vigilance, submission and debasement, and punish mate's infidelity threat. Sexual inducement was negatively associated with commitment status. Conscientiousness was positively associated with sexual inducement, possessive ornamentation, love and care, appearance enhancement, and resource display. Agreeableness was positively associated with two cost-infliction tactics: jealousy induction and submission and debasement. Extraversion was positively correlated with time monopolization, love and care, and intrasexual threats. Age was negatively associated with direct guarding, vigilance, time monopolization, commitment manipulation, appearance enhancement, and love and care. The gender differences in mate retention tactics supported the two evolution-based hypotheses.
