Mate choice, mate preference, and biological markets: the relationship between partner choice and health preference is modulated by women’s own attractiveness

Wincenciak, J. , Fincher, C. L., Fisher, C. I., Hahn, A. C. , Jones, B. C. and DeBruine, L. M. (2015) Mate choice, mate preference, and biological markets: the relationship between partner choice and health preference is modulated by women’s own attractiveness. Evolution and Human Behavior, 36(4), pp. 274-278. (doi: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.12.004)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2014.12.004

Abstract

Although much of the research on human mate preference assumes that mate preference and partner choice will be related to some extent, evidence for correlations between mate preference and mate choice is mixed. Inspired by biological market theories of mate choice, which propose that individuals with greater market value will be better placed to translate their preference into choice, we investigated whether participants’ own attractiveness modulated the relationship between their preference and choice. Multilevel modeling showed that experimentally assessed preferences for healthy-looking other-sex faces predicted third-party ratings of partner’s facial health better among women whose faces were rated as more attractive by third parties. This pattern of results was not seen for men. These results suggest that the relationship between mate preference and mate choice may be more complex than was assumed in previous research, at least among women. Our results also highlight the utility of biological market theories for understanding the links between mate preference and partner choice.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hahn, Dr Amanda and Wincenciak, Dr Joanna and DeBruine, Professor Lisa and Jones, Professor Benedict and Fincher, Dr Corey and Fisher, Dr Claire
Authors: Wincenciak, J., Fincher, C. L., Fisher, C. I., Hahn, A. C., Jones, B. C., and DeBruine, L. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Journal Name:Evolution and Human Behavior
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1090-5138
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Authors
First Published:First published in Evolution and Human Behavior
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
629591Preference versus choice: How experimental tests of face preferences relate to actual partner choiceLisa DebruineEconomic & Social Research Council (ESRC)ES/I031022/1RI NEUROSCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY
604381OCMATE�\200\224 Do oral contraceptives alter women�\200\231s mate preferences?Benedict JonesEuropean Research Council (ERC)OCMATE FP7ERC28RI NEUROSCIENCE & PSYCHOLOGY