BUMP IN THE NIGHT: A LOOK AT MONSTER ATTRACTION THROUGH EVOLUTIONARY MATE CHOICE

Attraction to fictional monsters (MF attraction) remains a largely unexplored area of academic literature. This exploratory study uses evolutionary mate choice theories to examine demographic, behavioral, and perceptual traits associated with MF attraction. Five hypotheses guided the research: MF attraction may represent a non-reproducing strategy prevalent among asexual or aromantic individuals; a “misfiring” of evolved mate selection strategies among women; a “misfiring” of mate preferences for threatening or protective traits among women; a paraphilia more prevalent in men; or a kink-oriented preference, with men favoring humanoid or anthropomorphic traits. A quantitative survey (N = 2,042) gathered data on participants’ demographics, dating and sexual history, sociosexual orientation, and preferences for physical and emotional monster traits. Results did not support hypotheses related to non-reproducing strategies, paraphilic tendencies, or broad misfiring mechanisms. Instead, gendered motivations emerged: women showed greater attraction to threatening or formidable monsters, potentially tied to evolutionary preferences for protective or resource-rich mates, while men displayed a kink-oriented preference for humanoid or anthropomorphic monsters, possibly reflecting a focus on visual arousal cues and objectifying traits. This study highlights the diversity within MF attraction and its connection to distinct gendered pathways. By challenging simplistic categorizations of MF attraction, these findings provide a basis for further exploration of the interplay between sexuality, fantasy, and evolutionary psychology.