The necessities and luxuries of mate preferences: testing the tradeoffs.
Social exchange and evolutionary models of mate selection incorporate economic assumptions but have not considered a key distinction between necessities and luxuries. This distinction can clarify an apparent paradox: Status and attractiveness, though emphasized by many researchers, are not typically rated highly by research participants. Three studies supported the hypothesis that women and men first ensure sufficient levels of necessities in potential mates before considering many other characteristics rated as more important in prior surveys. In Studies 1 and 2, participants designed ideal long-term mates, purchasing various characteristics with 3 different budgets. Study 3 used a mate-screening paradigm and showed that people inquire 1st about hypothesized necessities. Physical attractiveness was a necessity to men, status and resources were necessities to women, and kindness and intelligence were necessities to both.
Li
Norman P
NP
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1104, USA. normli@asu.edu
Bailey
J Michael
JM
Kenrick
Douglas T
DT
Linsenmeier
Joan A W
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001504:Beauty; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires