HUMAN MATE PREFERENCES

Human Mate Preferences



Human Mate Preferences

Introduction

Psychologists agree that the starting point when you look at a potential partner's sexual attraction usually causes of biological reactions, nervous disorders, heart rate changes. However, apart from this we know that desire is highly mediated by psychological characteristics and personal experience to determine the criteria used to choose a person to their partner. According to the evolutionary predictions, men sought younger physically attractive women, and offered their socioeconomic status; women sought older men with status / resources, and physical attractiveness offered in turn.

Discussion

The cultural study of mate choice by Buss indicates that the sample of the English population differs in the preferences of some features of evolutionary predictions. From 7415 ads section of "stable relationships / marriage" of English newspapers analyzed the features offered and sought by men and women of different age classes. Some results support the predictions of evolution: men seek younger women and to offer physical attractiveness and socioeconomic status; women seek older men with status and resources and offer physical attractiveness (Rosenberg, 2008, pp. 549). Other results are contrary to evolutionary predictions and seem to be specific to the sample of the English population studied: women more than men seek physical attractiveness and fidelity. Offered and sought traits differ in different age classes, so they must be influenced by socio-cultural factors.

The cross-cultural study of mate preferences suggests that the English, with regard to some trait preferences, does not follow evolutionary predictions. According to the evolutionary predictions, men sought younger physically attractive women, and offered their socioeconomic status; women sought older men with status / resources, and physical attractiveness offered in turn. However, other results are contrary to evolutionary predictions, and appear to be specific for the studio English population: women seek physical attractiveness and fidelity more than men. Varied and sought offered traits according to different age groups, and seem to be therefore would influenced by socio-cultural factors (Miller, 2000, pp. 98).

The psychological mechanisms involved in reproductive decisions by the preference of certain features of the couple would likely have been designed by natural selection because it increases fitness. According to theoretical models based on evolutionary biology on parental investment in breeding and sexual selection, factors that influence the choice of sexual partner in mammals are different according to sex, primarily because the investment of time and energy in reproduction is much higher in females than in males (Lande, 2002, pp. 399). This cost differential reproductive females makes them more selective in the demands of potential partners, while males invest more in quality characteristics and behaviors that increase the chances of being elected as a couple.

In recent years, evolutionary psychology has developed theoretical aspects of mate choice in humans proposing a series of hypotheses about the preferences of men and women who want a stable relationship. as the costs of parenting are very high and long-term, women will seek cooperation in parental care and value delivery in the male family stability, economic resources (increasing with age), ambition and status ...