Discuss the Roles of Evolutionary and Socio-cultural Factors in Determining Human Mate Preferences

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Discuss the Roles of Evolutionary and Socio-cultural Factors in Determining Human Mate Preferences

Introduction

Human mate choice is well-thought and informed. Given an option between a caring healthy and a diseased inhumane partner, majority would opt for the former over the later. For this reason, these preferences inform who a person is attracted to, who they share their special moments with and who they invite into their lives. Mate-choices influence how people choose companions: who they live with and obtain assistance from; and for some, with whom they start relations with, raising children. Mating preferences determine whether a person will experience success or failures, which is important in highlighting qualities they will focus on when selecting prospective partners. As a result of this massive significance, it is fitting that assertive mating has become a core in evolutionary psychological studies. This paper utilizes an understanding of what preferences are and what they are like, to explain how evolutionary and socio-cultural factors determine human mate selection.

Roles of Evolutionary and Socio-cultural Factors

Assessing Partner Compatibility

Evolutionary and socio-cultural elements determine compatibility between partners in mate selection. According to Marzoli et al. (2013), people are simply unhappy when they mate with people, they are incompatible with; unfortunately, in most case, people do not select partners for the right reasons. Various psychologists claim that some individuals get drawn to others for unconscious reasons resulting from their childhood adaptations (Nongkynrih, 2016). The psychological defenses developed by people during their earlier years are often adaptive to the immediate surrounding; however, they may limit them in their adulthood when initiating relationships. Majority end up choosing people who will treat them like they were in their families to fulfill their adaptations. Ironically, attaining relationship compatibility requires thinking outside one’s comfort zone (Lewis et al., 2017). The most important thing is for individuals to choose people they like being around; hence they should not limit their mating choices with unnecessary restrictions.

A contextual shift is an example of a socio-cultural factor that people consider when assessing compatibility when making mate-choices. According to Marzoli et al. (2013), not only does mate preferences change across environments but also contexts; for example, the mating strategy persons pursue explains that traits they pursue in potential partners. For men, the core importance of short-lived, casual mating increases the access to multiple sexual partners (Lewis et al., 2017). However, the high standards set by prospective mates may hinder this access. Human mate preferences in men change as a function of their mating model. In another instance, when men pursue a long-term, high-commitment strategy, they set a higher ceiling for the kindness and intelligence of their potential partners (Nongkynrih, 2016). On the other hand, when men seek unattached, short-term companions, they considerably minimize their likings for intellect and kindness, letting them interact with...