Mate Preferences Evolutionary lens model. Sex similarities and sex differences in mate preferences. Adaptive flexibility in mate preferences.

Dawkins: “To a survival machine, another survival machine… is part of its environment, like a rock or a river or a lump of food. It is something that gets in the way or something that can be exploited.” “Natural selection favours genes that control their survival machines in such a way that they make the best use of their environment. This includes making the best use of other survival machines.”

Evolutionary “lens model” of mate preferences.

Underlying quality that I want to know about Subjective impression Perceptible Cues Underlying quality that I want to know about Subjective impression

(Miller & Todd, 1998)

Long-term vs. Short-term mating?

Sex differences?

Results from dozens of studies in dozens of cultures: Men and women show lots of similarities in their mate preferences. Men and women also differ in their mate preferences...

Men and women both value highly (although perhaps for somewhat different reasons) Men and women both value highly (although perhaps for somewhat different reasons)

Age

Sex differences in age preferences. Data from almost 200,000 users of an online dating service, in four large cities. (Men and women seeking opposite-sex partners.) (Bruch & Newman, 2018)

Sex differences in age preferences. Preferences for opposite-sex partner’s age, relative to own age. (Kenrick et al., 1996)

Sex differences in age preferences. Preferences for opposite-sex partner’s age, relative to own age. (Kenrick et al., 1996)

Sex differences in age preferences. Preferences for opposite-sex partner’s age, relative to own age. Additional results from studies by Kenrick and colleagues: Same patterns of age preferences in parents’ preferences for offspring’s husband/wife. Same patterns of age preferences in preferences for same-sex partner’s age.

Results from dozens of studies in dozens of cultures: Compared to women, men generally place a higher priority on physical attractiveness of potential mates. (For men, the physical characteristics that connote “attractiveness” are physical features associated with fertility.)

Men value especially highly (for very specific reasons) Age

Results from dozens of studies in dozens of cultures: Compared to men, women generally place a higher priority on social status, financial prospects, and traits that connote potential access to (and ability to provide) resources.

Women value especially highly (for very specific reasons)

Adaptive flexibility in mate preferences. Sex ratio and prioritization of physical attractiveness: (Watkins et al., 2012) When men are perceived to outnumber women, women show increased preference for men with symmetrical faces. Pathogen prevalence and prioritization of physical attractiveness: (Gangestad, Haselton, & Buss, 2006) In places where disease-causing pathogens are more prevalent, both men and women place a higher priority on attractive mates.

Adaptive flexibility in mate preferences. Female fertility and preference for “creative intelligence.” Preference for “creative intelligence” in a short-term mate: (Haselton & Miller, 2006)