The psychological impact of sexual attraction can be significant when it comes to making ethical decisions regarding fairness, reciprocity, and interpersonal responsibility. This paper will explore how sexual desire influences these concepts through an examination of research findings from social psychology and evolutionary theory.
Fairness
Sexual attraction can create a sense of entitlement that influences one's perception of fairness.
Men who are sexually attracted to women tend to perceive them as more likely to cheat than women who are sexually attracted to men (Dunbar et al., 2015).
Individuals who have recently engaged in sexual activity are less likely to engage in fair behavior towards others compared to those who did not (Ashby et al., 2018). This is because they feel entitled to rewards due to their recent sexual activity, which affects their moral judgments.
Reciprocity
Sexual attraction also influences reciprocity, as individuals often expect favorable treatment in return for their sexual efforts or desires. In experiments where participants were asked to donate money to strangers, those who received flirtatious messages gave more if they believed the recipient was romantically interested in them than if they weren't (Oppenheimer & Leach, 2004). Similarly, people who have been rejected by potential partners are less likely to help them out later (Boothroyd et al., 2009), possibly due to resentment over the unfairness of the initial rejection.
Interpersonal Responsibility
Sexual attraction has implications for interpersonal responsibility as well. People are often expected to take on certain responsibilities when entering into a relationship, such as providing emotional and physical support.
These obligations can be influenced by sexual desire, as individuals may feel that their partner owes them something after engaging in intimacy (Hill & Buss, 2016).
Individuals may judge their partner differently based on how attractive they find them, leading to unequal distribution of resources within relationships (Pincus et al., 2017).
Sexual attraction plays a significant role in shaping ethical decisions regarding fairness, reciprocity, and interpersonal responsibility. Further research is needed to fully understand this phenomenon, but it is clear that sexuality is an important factor in moral decision-making.
In what ways does sexual attraction influence the moral judgments individuals make about fairness, reciprocity, and interpersonal responsibility?
Research has shown that sexual attraction can influence an individual's morality by affecting their perception of what is considered fair, reciprocated, and appropriate behavior between themselves and others. Studies have revealed that individuals who experience strong feelings of sexual desire towards someone may perceive acts of kindness or generosity as indicative of romantic interest rather than moral behavior, which can lead to less emphasis on genuine altruism and increased focus on personal gain.