Note: This analysis is only based on evolutionary traits and general characteristics. There is a lot more that goes into picking a long-term mate that I have not discussed in this analysis. I am also focusing on female's mate preference rather than males. Both are similar and different in certain ways. I will post a longer analysis of sexual differences in both males and females and how it effects division of labor, sexual selection, etc. sometime in the near future. That analysis will go more in depth about these different topics.
What do women look for in a potential partner? A new study suggests that women who prefer physically formidable and dominant mates tend to feel more at risk of crime, regardless of the situational risk factors present. Their results show that women who felt more at risk of criminal victimization (even if risk was low), were most likely to prefer physically strong and dominant men for protection.
Although this could be a factor to mate preference, women generally prefer dominant (not only physical strength, but confidence, leadership skills, fitness/good health, higher social status, etc.) partners not only for protection, but stability, and passing of genes. Like the study states, men who are more dominant and also physically robust, will most likely be better at protecting their partner. A woman who mates with a more dominant male is more likely to have offspring that inherit the genes that contribute to 'dominance' such as strength and good health in the future. Also, a partner with a higher social status will most likely provide financial stability for the child. These factors are all important in mate preference for women. I will be focusing on the evolutionary history behind these reasons and how it can be related to modern society.
Sexual Selection
Sexual selection can be defined as a form of natural selection arising through preference by one sex for certain characteristics in individuals of the other sex. For example, the male Bowerbird will make a tent-like nest out of twigs, branches and other colorful objects to attract a female partner. The most elaborate and colorful nests attract the female Bowerbirds and they mate with the male(s) who make them, due to the fact that they can provide a 'good' set of genes for their offspring. This can be related to humans because both men and women are attracted to the other sex due to different characteristics. Males look for many characteristics in a potential female mate. One interesting characteristic is that males tend to be more attracted to women who have larger hips and/or bigger breasts. One reason for this is because it shows that the woman can maintain body fat on her and this is beneficial during pregnancy. During pregnancy, women must increase their calorie intake to feed their offspring. Extra body fat makes it easier for women during this process. Women are attracted to men who can provide, are healthy, and are successful in the environment they are in (i.e work). This shows women that their potential partner is confident and able to get things done. This is important for women because they invest long periods of time when raising their offspring. Women not only prefer that a 'good' set of genes are passed down to their offspring, but also that both parents can support the child financially and emotionally.
Gene Heredity and how Dominance, Confidence and Fitness Effect Male Partner Preference for Women
During ancient times, such as the time of mostly hunter-gatherer or early agricultural societies, a physically dominant male was the most attractive to females. The reason why is because those alpha males were better suited to lead tribes, maintain resources and take care of women/children. During those times, women who mated with the alpha male were more likely to have offspring that would inherit the genes predisposed to characteristics of dominance, such as strength which leads to an increase in confidence, and were less likely to inherit genes for certain health risks. In today's society, physical attractiveness isn't the main factor when preferring a long-term mate. Although women may prefer attractive males, women mostly look for a partner who is healthy and isn't predisposed to serious health complications. A male partner who has good skin, is able to reproduce, and has little to no health risks (such as heart disease, auto-immune disorders) might pass on those genetic markers to their male offspring. Thus, making sure the offspring can also pass on their 'good' set of genes if they are found to be physically fit (healthy) to females. Not only are physical/biological characteristics attractive to females when finding a mate, but another important factor is social status.
Social Status and how it Effects Male Partner Preference for Women
Social status is an important factor when it comes to women preferring specific male partners. Biology is an important factor as well, but a potential partner's social status can effect the choice a woman makes when choosing a future companion. Higher social status means that the individual is working in a field where they are successful and have important responsibilities. This not only shows a woman that the potential partner is a good leader, is successful (able to take on a lot), but also that they are financially stable. This is important because women must invest time raising their child. A partner who is financially stable will be able to help provide for the child without complications. Because women ovulate about once a month, they are cautious when it comes to picking a mate (generally speaking, men produce sperm a lot more than women ovulate, giving some leniency to men when picking partners. Meaning that men can spread their genes more often than a woman can. This is because the woman must invest 9 months carrying the child and about a year or so breast-feeding it. I am not disregarding the fact that men are cautious as well when picking mates. They must be since they as well will be investing time and effort into the relationship. They will also be investing time and effort into the child if the female is a long-term partner). So, when women look for a potential life-long partner, they are looking for someone who can provide stability and will invest time and goods into the woman and child's life. This isn't the only reason why women look for men who have a higher social status. Like mentioned previously, males who have a higher social status compared to others, show females that they can be good leaders and are responsible. This shows the potential female partner that their offspring might 1) acquire specific traits that can make it easier for the offspring to develop those certain characteristics (thus making them more attractive to a potential partner in the future) and 2) that the child will be associated with a higher status in the future. This is important not only now, but in the past as well. A child who belonged to a leader of a specific tribe, society, etc., were most likely treated differently than the other children. They had more privileges and opportunities. In modern times, this is beneficial for the offspring due to the fact that not only would they be financially supported, but in the future would have certain connections and opportunities that others might not have.
In conclusion, there are many factors that determine whether or not a female prefers a male partner to have a relationship with and/or a child with. I only focused on two simple/main ones: physical characteristics/biology, i.e no genetic diseases, good health, etc., and social status. There are many more factors that are present in mate-picking that go beyond the general concepts I have discussed. Ultimately, women invest more time when raising their offspring, so choosing a mate (surface level in the case of this analysis) with specific characteristics that would benefit the child is ideal. For that reason, we can see how most women prefer dominant men ('good' genetic factors, physical attractiveness, higher social status) rather than men who are not as dominant.
Links on Sexual Selection & Mate Preference
1) Women who feel more at risk of crime also prefer physically dominant partners
2) Evolution of Human Mate Choice
3) Partner Preferences: Short Term vs Long Term
4) Sociosexuality and Romantic
5) Social influence in human face preference: men and women are influenced more for long-term than short-term attractiveness decisions
6) Female waist-to-hip and male waist-to-shoulder ratios as determinants of romantic partner desirability
7) The Evolutionary Psychology of Human Mate Choice: How Ecology, Genes, Fertility, and Fashion Influence Mating Behavior
8) Female copulatory orgasm and male partner’s attractiveness to his partner and other women
9) Good genes, complementary genes and human mate preferences
10) Human Mate Preferences: Tested in 37 Cultures
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