Sex and Relationship Affect Social Self-Grooming
Since there have been so many studies done on the grooming along b9irds and primates, Scheflen and Given have considered the role of preening in human social activities. When considering humans and preening, many functions can include boosting self-esteem, relieving boredom, reducing physical discomfort, and managing positive impressions in the presence of others. For humans, preening means hair grooming, clothes straightening, and hazing at self in the mirror. This study examined some correlates of preening as an impression management activity.
For this study, 77 individuals were used. 32 were males and 43 were females. All the subjects were in their early to mid-twenties. They were randomly selected from an estimated 500 potential participants available during the observational phase of this investigation.
Data collection took place in two stages. The first stage was the observation of preening behaviors. The subjects were observed in five restaurants and bars that were located within the university community. The second phase was the interview phase. Once the subject left the bathroom, the observer followed and identified the subject to a person who served as an interviewer. The interviewer recorded what the observer found. This includes the sex of the person and the amount of preening. The interviewer then approached the subject to see if they could ask a couple of questions. The three questions were (1) how long the subject had been in the establishment, (2) the nature of the relationship between the subject and the person(s) sitting with them and (3) how long the subject had known the other person(s) them. The responses for question two were then split up into four different categories. These were (1)long-term, stable relationships which included married couples and long-term same sex friends who had no intentions of meeting new people that evening, (2) couples who were dating and who had dated for more than four dates, (3) couples who were in the early stages of the relationship: the date was one of their first four with each other, and (4) individuals and groups who were specifically in the establishment trying to meet new people.
The results are as follows
1. Females preen for longer periods of time than males
2. People who are married or close friends preen less than other groups
3. Couples on their first, second, third, or fourth date preen more than those who have been dating longer.
4. The longer people know one another, the less time they spend preening.
For this study, 77 individuals were used. 32 were males and 43 were females. All the subjects were in their early to mid-twenties. They were randomly selected from an estimated 500 potential participants available during the observational phase of this investigation.
Data collection took place in two stages. The first stage was the observation of preening behaviors. The subjects were observed in five restaurants and bars that were located within the university community. The second phase was the interview phase. Once the subject left the bathroom, the observer followed and identified the subject to a person who served as an interviewer. The interviewer recorded what the observer found. This includes the sex of the person and the amount of preening. The interviewer then approached the subject to see if they could ask a couple of questions. The three questions were (1) how long the subject had been in the establishment, (2) the nature of the relationship between the subject and the person(s) sitting with them and (3) how long the subject had known the other person(s) them. The responses for question two were then split up into four different categories. These were (1)long-term, stable relationships which included married couples and long-term same sex friends who had no intentions of meeting new people that evening, (2) couples who were dating and who had dated for more than four dates, (3) couples who were in the early stages of the relationship: the date was one of their first four with each other, and (4) individuals and groups who were specifically in the establishment trying to meet new people.
The results are as follows
1. Females preen for longer periods of time than males
2. People who are married or close friends preen less than other groups
3. Couples on their first, second, third, or fourth date preen more than those who have been dating longer.
4. The longer people know one another, the less time they spend preening.