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

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.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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