The role of the behavioral immune system in the expression of short and long-term orientation in young Chilean men during the COVID-19 pandemic

We find changes are maintained at the level of sociosexual desire and sexual behavior but mainly in those individuals with a greater perception of the risk of contagion. The hypotheses derived from the behavioral immune system regarding the decrease in sociosexuality in a context of risk of contagion by pathogens, as was the case in the initial period of COVID-19, are corroborated only in terms of desire and behavior, which suggests a certain stability in attitudes i.e., the menace of contagion modifies proximal aspects of sociosexuality, such as fantasies and behavior, but has no apparent effect on the calibration of the predisposition of individuals to varying levels of commitment in sexual relationships. These findings will allow us to understand better how the dimensions of sociosexuality (i.e., fantasies, attitudes and behavior) are affected when there are contexts of high risk of contagion, such as COVID-19. These findings will allow us to understand better how sociosexuality is affected when there are contexts of high risk of contagion, such as COVID-19.