Mate value
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Evolution of mate value
Evolutionary theory has been able to show that individuals aim for the highest mate value possible, not only of others but of themselves. Mate values that have continuously been seen as preferential include fertility, reproductive ability [1], health, age, intelligence, status, parenting skills, kindness, willingness and ability to invest in offspring[2][3][4][5][6][7]. However, all individuals are different and therefore value characteristics in different ways [8] leading to a time consuming search if looking for a mate based on one's own mate value [9]. As shown by Buss et al. (2001), some mate values have increased and decreased in preference over time. With the introduction of birth control and contraception, chastity has become a lesser favoured mate value whereas dependable character, emotion stability and maturity have retained a high esteem [10].
- ^ Sugiyama, L. S. (2005). Physical Attractiveness: An Adaptationist Perspective. The handbook of evolutionary psychology.
- ^ Buss, D. M. (1989). Sex differences in human mate preferences: Evolutionary hypotheses tested in 37 cultures. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 12, 1– 49
- ^ Gangestad, S. W., & Simpson, J. A. (2000). The evolution of human mating: The role of trade-offs and strategic pluralism. Behavior and Brain Sciences, 23, 573– 644.
- ^ Gangestad, S. W., & Thornhill, R. (1999). Individual differences in developmental precision and fluctuating asymmetry: A model and its implications. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 12, 402–416
- ^ Symons, D. (1979). The evolution of human sexuality. New York: Oxford University Press
- ^ Symons, D. (1992). On the use and misuse of Darwinism in the study of human behavior. In J. Barkow, L. Cosmides, & J. Tooby (Eds.), The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture (pp. 137–162). New York: Oxford University Press
- ^ Symons, D. (1995). Beauty is in the adaptations of the beholder. In P. R. Abramson & S. D. Pinkerson (Eds.), Sexual nature, sexual culture (pp. 80–118). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- ^ Buss, D. M. (1985). Human mate selection: Opposites are sometimes said to attract, but in fact we are likely to marry someone who is similar to us in almost every variable. American scientist, 73(1), 47-51.
- ^ Dillon, H. M., Adair, L. E., Wang, Z., & Johnson, Z. (2013). Slow and steady wins the race: Life history, mate value, and mate settling. Personality and Individual Differences, 55(5), 612-618.
- ^ Buss, D. M., Shackelford, T. K., Kirkpatrick, L. A., & Larsen, R. J. (2001). A half century of mate preferences: The cultural evolution of values. Journal of Marriage and Family, 63(2), 491-503.