relationships

• The evolutionary explanation for partner preferences in human reproductive behavior is driven by the need to survive and reproduce
• Sexual selection acts on creatures' ability to compete with others of the same sex for mates and attract the opposite sex


  Genes that provide reproductive advantage will be selected for, increasing in the human gene pool
• Intersexual selection


  When members of one sex typically females choose mates of the other sex based on specific traits
• Intrasexual selection


  When members of the same sex typically males compete with each other to access and attract members of the opposite sex
• Male-female dimorphism


  Enhanced secondary sexual characteristics are selected for by both genders
• Qualities females look for in mates

  • Resources and money
  • Physical characteristics linked to dominance
  • Tall, healthy, v-shaped chest
• Qualities males look for in mates

  • Fertility indicators
  • Large breasts
  • Young facial features
  • Body shape of 0.7 hip to waist ratio
• Research by Dunbar and Wayne Firth 1995 found that 42% of males were looking for youth in mates compared to 25% of females
• Research by Clock and Hartfield 1989 showed that males were likely to emphasize their economic status while women were likely to emphasize their looks
• Research by Cunningham 1986 found that men were most attracted to images of youthful faces, large eyes, small noses, and chins
• Research by Singh 1993 shows a cross-cultural preference for a 0.7 hip to waist ratio
• Factors affecting attraction in romantic relationships include self-disclosure
• Self-disclosure


  Sharing personal information to build trust and improve relationships
• Research by Hendrick observed that self-disclosure on dates was positively correlated with relationship satisfaction, love, and commitment
• Physical attractiveness plays a role in attraction in romantic relationships
• It's generally thought that women are better communicators, more willing to share information
• Increased disclosure and increased attraction
• Alpha bias exaggerates the differences between men and women
• Physical attractiveness leads to more attraction towards physically good-looking people
• Evolutionary theories suggest that attractiveness indicates genetic and physical health
• From an evolutionary perspective, it makes sense to mate with someone capable of conceiving and successfully raising a child and passing on the best genes possible
• Halo effect: People with physical attractiveness are assumed to be successful in other areas of life
• Matching hypothesis: Individuals tend to select partners who are at a similar level of attractiveness to themselves
• In a study by Murstar in 1972, couples were likelier to have a similar level of attraction
• Online dating websites and apps heavily depend on visual cues for partner selection
• Theories of relationship exchange that include potential costs and benefits may better explain mate selection over the long term
• Filters in mate selection

  1. Social demography

  2. Similarity in attitudes

  3. Complementarity
• Similarity in attitudes is important for short-term relationships, while complementarity is important for long-term relationships
• Beliefs may converge over time as partners communicate, leading to similar values in long-term couples
• Complementarity may develop over time as partners find their roles within a relationship
• Globalization and migration have resulted in more frequent relationship formations across ethnicities and cultures
• Social exchange theory: Partners see relationships as similar to a business, performing a cost-benefit analysis
• Comparison level: Comparing our relationship to previous relationships or relationships in the media to gauge how rewarding relationships should be
• Comparison of Alternatives: Looking at other potential partners to consider if they would provide higher benefits
• Equity theory: Equality in rewards and costs in a relationship
• Investment theory: Considering how much has been invested in the current relationship, not just current satisfaction
• Commitment: Equal satisfaction minus alternatives plus investment
• Investments in a relationship are resources placed directly into the relationship like emotional work, time, and self-disclosures
• Investments in a relationship cannot be easily recovered in a breakup
• Difficult to divide intrinsic investments are resources placed directly into the relationship like emotional work time and self-disclosures