Fertile, flirty, and fierce: Kristina Durante at TEDxSanAntonio 2013

Unlike men, women's sexual behavior can result in reproduction only near ovulation -- a time each month when estrogen levels are particularly high. Women's behavior should therefore shift near ovulation in ways that optimize reproductive outcomes. A large body of evidence has emerged in support of this prediction and has focused primarily on how ovulation shifts women's romantic preferences. However, for any social animal, enhancing reproductive outcomes also involves successfully outcompeting same-sex individuals for status and access to mates. My talk will focus on the idea that ovulation should amplify women's desire to compete with other women. I call this idea the ovulatory competition hypothesis. I will begin with a theoretical overview of ovulation and female competition. I will discuss findings from my research on how the hormones associated with ovulation influence women's desire to outcompete rivals and the various competitive tactics that shift near ovulation. In addition, I will highlight new avenues of this research program and include a discussion of why research into how fertility affects women's behavior is important: Namely, because it can provide a window through which we can better understand the psychology behind women's attitudes, preferences, and motivations.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)