Different cognitive processes underlie human mate choices and mate preferences

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23376532
AutoresPeter M Todd (0000-0003-0231-513X, Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition and), Lars Penke (0000-0002-9484-580X, International Max Planck Research School LIFE, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195 Berlin, Germany), Barbara Fasolo (0000-0002-4643-5689, Operational Research Group, London School of Economics, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom; and), Alison P Lenton (University of Edinburgh)
Ano2007
Volume104
Fascículo38
Páginas15011-15016
Data de publicação2007-09-18
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0027-8424 • E-ISSN: 1091-6490
EditoraNational Academy of Sciences (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1073/pnas.0705290104
PMID17827279
PMCIDPMC1986604
OpenAlexW2171705182
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas107
Referências citadas34

Based on undergraduates' self-reports of mate preferences for various traits and self-perceptions of their own levels on those traits, Buston and Emlen [Buston PM, Emlen ST (2003) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100:8805–8810] concluded that modern human mate choices do not reflect predictions of tradeoffs from evolutionary theory but instead follow a “likes-attract” pattern, where people choose mates who match their self-perceptions. However, reported preferences need not correspond to actual mate choices, which are more relevant from an evolutionary perspective. In a study of 46 adults participating in a speed-dating event, we were largely able to replicate Buston and Emlen's self-report results in a pre-event questionnaire, but we found that the stated preferences did not predict actual choices made during the speed-dates. Instead, men chose women based on their physical attractiveness, whereas women, who were generally much more discriminating than men, chose men whose overall desirability as a mate matched the women's self-perceived physical attractiveness. Unlike the cognitive processes that Buston and Emlen inferred from self-reports, this pattern of results from actual mate choices is very much in line with the evolutionary predictions of parental investment theory.

Attractiveness · Biology · Cognition · Event (particle physics) · Evolutionary psychology · Evolutionary theory · Mate choice · Mating · Perception · Perspective (graphical) · Physical attractiveness · Replicate · Computer Science · Consumer Behavior in Brand Consumption and Identification · Ecology · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Social Psychology