Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-16-2026

Abstract

Evolutionary pressures have shaped men’s and women’s motivations to cooperate and compete with one another. Sexual conflict is generated in natural conditions but may be exacerbated by features of the modern world. The current study recruited participants from Prolific to respond to a Qualtrics survey (n = 812) to investigate the correlates of opposite-sex distrust/antipathy using the newly developed Opposite Sex Antipathy (OSA) scale, which is the first of its kind to allow cross-sex comparisons. Men and women’s antipathy for each other was predicted by perceptions that the opposite sex was of lower value to society, more harmful experiences with the opposite sex, lower income, more time spent on forums and social media, greater tendencies for interpersonal victimhood, greater mating misalignment, and more extreme political identity. The effects of mating misalignment, weight, and political identity on antipathy were stronger for women, while the effect of harmful and helpful experiences on antipathy was stronger for men. The findings from this study shed light on the multitude of factors that predict opposite sex antipathy, some of which are rooted in shared sexual conflict and others that are more salient for one sex.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Tania Reynolds

Second Committee Member

Geoffrey Miller

Third Committee Member

Melissa Emery Thompson

Language

English

Keywords

opposite-sex hate, sexism, sexual conflict, male-female competition, evolution

Document Type

Thesis

Download

Share

COinS