Alpha Mail: the benefits of low-N

Phronesis wonders how it works the other way:

Your posts on game were an eye-opener from the moment I read your critiques of the double standard. So here's my question: when a man is seeking a long-term relationship, you say a high N-count will lower a woman's market value by a significant amount, 3-4 points. How much would you say a low N-count adds to a woman's market value for a man seeking a long term relationship?

First, it's important to note that low N doesn't add to a woman's short-term sexual value, except in the eyes of achievement-oriented players who are seeking to score the Cherry Popper Ribbon, which, if we assume the system follows that of Battlefield 3 rather than World of Warcraft, is awarded upon the deflowering of the player's seventh virgin. In other words, in the eyes of High Alpha players who are to be avoided at all costs. If a charming and very good-looking man's eyes suddenly light up upon hearing that an attractive woman is a virgin, she had better run, not walk, for the nearest exit. He's not even interested in casual sex per se, he's primarily looking to check a box, and she will be in well over her head with him.

The benefit to a low N-count isn't in increasing a woman's marital value, except in relative terms, but rather concerns not decreasing it. Take two women whose marital values appear to be generally equal, except that one has N=18 and the other N=0. If they both had a marital value of seven on a ten-scale, the higher N woman will fall to a four while the lower N woman remains a seven. The less experienced woman is more likely to marry, and more likely to marry a higher status man. The only way low N will actually add to a woman's perceived value is when a man assumes her level of past experience to be higher.

For example, if one assumes a woman has a standard collegiate N of 6 and has mentally assigned her a marital value of six, the discovery that her N is actually 2 is probably going to increase her marital value to a seven, perhaps even an eight if he is low status. Remember, when one is dealing with hierarchical issues, everything is relative, so the benefits of low N is are multiplied with the lower socio-sexual rank of the man. The difference between a woman having had 1-3 previous partners is a much bigger deal to the gamma who has had 2 partners than to the Alpha with 20.

This means that the pool of potential mates will be larger for the low N-count woman, which makes keeping her numbers low particularly important for the low status woman. The hot slut has the option of marrying down whereas the ugly slut is more likely to remain unattached.