The relation between mate value, entitlement, physical aggression, size and strength among a sample of young Indian men

Abstract

This study extends previous ones showing a link between direct aggression and size and strength among young men, which were informed by the evolutionary concept of resource holding power (RHP), using measures of size, strength, flexed bicep circumference and hand grip strength among a sample of young men from the Indian state of Mizoram. The study also examined the relation of these variables to reactive and proactive aggression, to entitlement to resources (related to the threatened egotism theory of aggression) and mate value (central to a modular theory of self-esteem and more broadly to sexual selection). The findings showed only a weak association between size and strength and direct aggression, which was also significantly correlated with entitlement and mate value, as predicted. Mate value also showed some association with size and strength. Reactive but not proactive aggression was linked with entitlement, but neither was associated with size or strength. In a regression analysis, controlling for age, mate value was the strongest predictor of direct aggression, but both weight (highly correlated with strength) and entitlement were marginally significant predictors independent of mate value. The findings provide support for the view that young males who view themselves as more attractive to women are more aggressive, independently of the impact on aggressiveness of RHP or entitlement to resources.