Identification of Personal Characteristics Important in Mate Selection

Location

CSU

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Edison Perdomo

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ways in which men and women choose their mates and the characteristics that are important in this process. The sociobiological theory of human mating preferences suggests that men will generally choose attractive young women as mates, while women generally choose mates with wealth and stams. The subjects were comprised of 60 introductory psychology students. Subjects were given a survey consisting of four personal ads, each one describing a different aspect of personality (i.e. beauty, wealth/status, good personality, and intelligence). They were then asked to rank the ads in order of interest. It was found that subjects responded contrary to sociobiological theory in their choices. Subjects were also given a test to measure self-esteem. Both men and women chose intelligence and good personality as being more important than beauty or wealth. These findings are important because they suggest that men and women are more alike in mating preferences than previously believed.

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Identification of Personal Characteristics Important in Mate Selection

CSU

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ways in which men and women choose their mates and the characteristics that are important in this process. The sociobiological theory of human mating preferences suggests that men will generally choose attractive young women as mates, while women generally choose mates with wealth and stams. The subjects were comprised of 60 introductory psychology students. Subjects were given a survey consisting of four personal ads, each one describing a different aspect of personality (i.e. beauty, wealth/status, good personality, and intelligence). They were then asked to rank the ads in order of interest. It was found that subjects responded contrary to sociobiological theory in their choices. Subjects were also given a test to measure self-esteem. Both men and women chose intelligence and good personality as being more important than beauty or wealth. These findings are important because they suggest that men and women are more alike in mating preferences than previously believed.