"Just as birds display bright plumage or colouration, men may attract women by showing off expensive cars or clothing. In the same vein, playfulness in a male may signal to females that he is non-aggressive and less likely to harm them or their offspring. A woman's playfulness, on the other hand, may signal her youth and fertility," Professor Garry Chick of Penn State University said.
Humans and other animals exhibit a variety of signals as to their value as mates, the study said.
The researchers explained their study using a previous survey that included a list of 13 possible characteristics that individuals might seek in prospective mates.
To that original list, they added three new traits: "playful," "sense of humour" and "fun loving." The authors gave the survey to 164 male and 89 female undergraduate students, aged 18 to 26.
Of the 16 items, "sense of humour," "fun loving" and "playful" ranked second, third and fourth, respectively, among traits that females sought in males. Males rated three traits--"physically attractive," "healthy," and "good heredity"--that are characteristic of female fertility as significantly more desirable than females rated them in males.
"The fact that the subjects tended to rank 'sense of humour,' 'fun loving' and 'playful' at or near the top of the list of 16 characteristics does not mean that the mates they have selected or will select will actually exhibit these traits," Chick said, adding "Our results suggest that adult playfulness may result from sexual selection and signal positive qualities to potential long-term mates."
The team findings were published in the American Journal of Play.
