Summary of Brewer & Riley (2009): Height, Relationship Satisfaction, Jealousy, Mate Retention, and Cuckoldry
Source: Evolutionary Psychology, 7(3), 477–489
Key Takeaways:
Tall men are generally seen as having higher mate value—they’re more attractive, dominant, and have better reproductive success than shorter men.
- This study explores how height relates to relationship satisfaction, jealousy, and mate retention behaviors.
- Shorter men may be more vulnerable to female infidelity (cuckoldry) and relationship breakups.
- Researchers expected taller men to report greater satisfaction and less jealousy than shorter men.
Background:
Height and Attractiveness:
- Height is a sign of health, dominance, and higher testosterone, which contributes to attractiveness.
- Tall men are more successful in dating, tend to marry more attractive partners, and have more children.
- Women prefer tall men for both short- and long-term relationships.
- Women may use a “dual mating strategy”: pair with a shorter man for stability and resources, but seek genes from a taller man.
- This increases the risk of cuckoldry (raising a child fathered by someone else) for short men.
- Short men face higher reproductive risks if they lose their partner or are cheated on, since they may have fewer opportunities for extra-pair matings.
- Jealousy can be adaptive—alerting individuals to threats and encouraging behaviors to protect the relationship.
- Three types of jealousy were studied:
- Emotional jealousy: emotional reactions to threats
- Cognitive jealousy: suspicion or concern about infidelity
- Behavioral jealousy: actions taken to reduce threats
- The study predicted that short men would score higher on all jealousy dimensions and engage more in mate-retention behaviors (e.g., checking in, doing favors).
- Tall men were expected to feel more secure, be less jealous, and more satisfied.
Methods:
- Participants: 98 heterosexual men in relationships, aged 19–72.
- Measures included:
- Relationship satisfaction (7-point scale)
- Jealousy (Multidimensional Jealousy Scale)
- Mate retention behaviors (e.g., surveillance, affection)
Results:
- Tall men reported more relationship satisfaction and lower levels of cognitive and behavioral jealousy.
- Both linear and quadratic relationships were found between height and:
- Relationship satisfaction
- Jealousy levels
- Mate retention behaviors
- Short and tall men used different mate retention strategies.
Tall men benefit from greater attractiveness and confidence in their relationships. In contrast, shorter men may experience more jealousy and engage in more effortful mate-retention strategies, partly due to increased risks of cuckoldry and lower perceived mate value.
