Amidst Male Scarcity, African-American Women Prefer Care to Material Selection-Traits

This study investigated African-American women’s preference for social/emotional and biologically-advantageous characteristics. Thirty Black women chose between pairs of these traits, with 84% preferring care. Self-esteem correlated with confidence in finding a desirable partner, but not with preference for care traits. Relationships between self-handicapping, self-esteem, and emotional/biological trades-offs will be discussed.