Based on our findings, the majority of participants who perceived that targets were involved in a relationship recognized that their reasoning was strongly influenced by the hickeys present. For example, participants would say this goal is in a relationship because hickeys are indicative of commitment. While it cannot be statistically supported that hickeys indicate relationship status, there appears to be a strong relationship between the two variables. Since the majority of participants' responses were due to the presence of hickeys, it can be inferred that hickeys on a person's body may possibly represent a sign of territory, so a person with hickeys would be perceived as being in a relationship. Data revealed that males were perceived as taking greater risks and being more socially dominant, but females were rated as more sexually dominant. Consistent with the evolutionary perspective, those with visibly seen hickeys are rated as more promiscuous, sexually desirable, and more risk-taking, which supports our original hypotheses. Those with visibly seen hickeys are perceived as more socially dominant, which did not support our original hypothesis that those with hickeys would be perceived as more submissive overall. Closer to meaning but of notable interest, those with visible hickeys were considered more sexually dominant and more romantically desirable. Males with hickeys are perceived as more risk-taking and more sexually desirable than males without hickeys. Women with hickeys are also seen as more risk-taking and more sexually desirable than women without hickeys. Both results support our original hypotheses. Between the two... halves of the paper......the. We also plan to add additional demographic data, such as participants' relationship status and whether he/she gives hickeys, as well as reasons why they do or don't, to shed more light on the topic. We also hope to increase the number of males represented in the study in order to hopefully investigate differences in the perception of pacifiers between males and females. Because this line of research is fairly new to the field, the information we can find about hickeys in particular is scarce. There is a vast literature on territory marking, but there is little that actually focuses on territory markings on the human body. Based on how physical appearance is valued in society, especially when involving potential mates, the main goal is to continue investigating how hickeys are perceived and what they might indicate.