The understanding of why people choose their mates may be deeper than one initially thinks. The science of evolutionary psychology helps us understand better our motivations for seeking out certain partners. In particular, it can help explain the differences between cultures and why certain behaviors may be seen as desirable or unacceptable in certain environments. This article will explore the evolutionary psychology of attraction and mate selection, how it has shaped certain behaviors, and how it plays out today.
How Does Evolutionary Psychology Explain Attraction and Mate Selection?
Evolutionary psychology is based on the idea that a species evolves in order to survive and reproduce. It follows that individuals of a species would naturally form attractions towards potential mates that would allow them to increase their chances of reproducing.
This “survival of the fittest” instinct has led to humans forming attractions to features and traits that are seen as desirable, such as healthy physical features, good genes, financial security and intelligence. From an evolutionary perspective, these traits indicate that a mate would be more likely to pass on beneficial traits to their children, and thus increase the chances of survival for the species.
In addition to these physical or mental traits, evolutionary psychology can also explain why people may be attracted to certain personality traits. For example, being trustworthy and loyal may be seen as desirable as it could protect the partner’s reputation and result in a more successful relationship.
What Are Some Examples of This in Humans and Other Animals?
Evolutionary psychology helps to explain why humans choose the partners they do, but it can also be seen in the animal kingdom. In monkeys, for example, males engage in a practice called mate guarding. This involves them guarding attractive females from their rivals, in order to ensure their chosen female mates with them. While this behavior may seem aggressive, it is a consequence of evolved traits focused on reproduction and is seen across the animal kingdom.
In humans, evolutionary psychology can be seen in mate selection through the ‘status-seeking’ behavior. This is seen as desirable in some cultures and involves looking for a mate who is considered to be higher in status than you. This behavior could be seen as practical, as a higher-status partner will bring valuable resources, such as financial stability and connections, that could help the offspring prosper. Ultimately, bloodlines can be linked to certain privileges and physical benefits, so the practice of status-seeking may be a subconscious attempt at ensuring the survival of the species.
How Does Culture Impact Mate Selection?
Not all cultures see the same traits as desirable when it comes to mate selection. Whereas some cultures may highly value physical beauty, others may see intelligence or charm as a beneficial quality. Furthermore, cultures will often have social expectations about the types of partners people should choose, for example in some cultures arranged marriage is commonplace.
In these cultures, individuals may still be looking to pass on the fittest traits to their children, they are simply restricted by the cultural expectations around them. For example, some cultures may practice cousin marriage, which is seen as a way of preserving wealth or status within the family. The evolutionary psychology explanation for this could be that the couple is seeking partners that share their genetic traits and will produce “superior” offspring.
In much the same way, some cultures will be more accepting of polygamy, which can be seen as an evolutionary step in attempting to pass on the best genetic traits. By choosing multiple mates, from whom to have offspring, an individual’s genetic pool is drastically increased and their chances of producing “superior” children can be maximized. Of course, this is opposed to the more traditional “one-partner-for-life” approach, which gives them no such safety net.
Conclusion
Evolutionary psychology is an incredibly useful tool in understanding attraction and mate selection. Humans, as with any species, are seeking ways to pass on the best possible traits to their children, in order to ensure the survival of their bloodline. This is why certain behaviors are seen as desirable, and why culture and status play such a huge factor in choosing a partner.
It is important to remember that in today’s world, we are not always bound by the expectations of our ancestors. We are not actively trying to pass on the best genetic traits to our children, but instead we are more likely to choose a partner based on love and mutual respect.
References
- Bilgin, D. (2014). The Meaning of Human Life: An Evolutionary Account. Oxford University Press.
- Buss, D. (2014). The Evolution Of Desire: Strategies Of Human Mating. Basic Books.
- Kanazawa, S. (2011). What Evolutionary Psychology Is. Evolutionary Psychology, 9(2), 14-23.