Abstract
In this study, the researcher examined the incidence of, and moral judgments about, mate poaching among late adolescents. The sample included 61 participants ages 18 to 21 years who completed an online survey with items rating relationship experiences, frequency of mate poaching, and judgments and justifications about mate poaching behavior, and open-ended questions inquiring respondents to provide written justifications for poaching judgments. Of the 61 participants, most (52) reported attempting to poach a partner, and 88.1% of participants rated that they were “successful” in the attempt. Results indicated that young adults generally disagree with statements endorsing the acceptability of stealing someone else’s partner away or having someone steal one’s own partner away. Statements listing justifications for stealing (e.g., if partner is better) were similarly not endorsed by this sample. Males were significantly more likely to endorse acceptability of having their partner stolen than females. In addition, males were more likely to agree with the statement “people who get cheated on have usually done things to deserve it” and were more likely to report attempts to steal. There was a significant association between poaching attempts and agreement with the statement: “It is acceptable to steal someone else’s partner away if you have better qualities as a partner”. In addition, those who were a poached themselves were more likely to endorse the “acceptable if better partner” versus those who were not poached. Qualitative analyses of open-ended justification responses revealed that young adults in the sample typically justified poaching as acceptable when someone is in an “Unhealthy Relationship”. Justifications for unacceptability for mate poaching included references to respect, moral wrongness, references to self, and shared responsibility. The most common responses involved reference to moral wrongdoing or compassion for others. Results suggest that there is evidence of a moral dimension to judgments of mate poaching. Future researchers may want to further explore this area more by using hypothetical situations in examining young adults’ endorsements on acceptability to mate poach. Interviews might also be useful in fleshing out justifications for this behavior.