title: Romantic partners in a market perspective: expectations about what ensures a highly desirable partner.
abstract: This study used the biological market perspective and influential statistical models from the marketing field to investigate males' and females' expectations regarding which combination of characteristics are most relevant in ensuring desirable partnerships for same-sex individuals. Thus, 358 Brazilian undergraduates assessed eight descriptions of same-gender stimulus targets (formulated with different levels of physical attractiveness, social skills, and current or prospective social status) and evaluated the overall desirability of the targets' expected or probable partners. From the possible combinations, three groups emerged: for one group, mainly composed of men, status characteristics were the most important attributes; for the others, mostly composed of women, social skills or physical characteristics were identified as most important in appealing to a desirable partner. This work expands the understanding of variability in male and female romantic expectations, and its implications are discussed from an evolutionary perspective.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Caixa Postal 1511, Lagoa Nova, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil. castrofn@gmail.com
authors.forename: Felipe N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Caixa Postal 1511, Lagoa Nova, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wallisen T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Caixa Postal 1511, Lagoa Nova, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Emília
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Caixa Postal 1511, Lagoa Nova, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fívia A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing; D012737:Sex Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult