Principles of Psychology: Attraction and Partner Selection Essay

This essay delves into the psychology of attraction and partner selection, focusing on gender differences as explained by evolutionary theory. It compares and contrasts how men and women prioritize different qualities in potential partners, such as economic resources, physical attributes, and emotional intelligence, based on their respective reproductive interests. The essay examines the evolutionary basis for these preferences, exploring how women's focus on resource acquisition and men's emphasis on beauty and youth serve their long-term reproductive goals. Furthermore, it analyzes the short-term and long-term mating strategies employed by both genders, including parental investment and mate value assessment. The essay highlights the similarities, such as the importance of emotional maturity and commitment, while also addressing the influence of social circumstances on mate selection, ultimately providing a comprehensive analysis of human mating behavior from an evolutionary perspective. This analysis is based on the provided text, which is a student's response to an assignment brief from a Principles of Psychology course.

Running head: ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 1
Attraction and Partner Selection
Student name
Institution
Date

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 2
Attraction and Partner Selection
Introduction
For a long time now, science has been trying to figure out the strategy which human
beings apply when selecting their partners. As a result, scientific thinking has brought about two
theories. The first one is evolutionary theory. In the evolutionary theory, it is claimed that,
physical characteristics, the behavioral tendencies as well as the personality features which tend
to promote the survival and reproductive chances, come along with a virtue that happens to be
desirable to the humanity. Also, the difference in the organism as outlined in biology and
anatomy usually dictates a different optimal solution to the issue in hand. For instance, when
two animals, one with strong wings and the other with nimble feet and the two animals
encounter a starving predator, most probably, the first animal will fly off while the second will
run.
Similarly, the evolutionary theory indicates that the differences encountered in both
anatomy and biological in men and women, normally result in the differences when it comes to
preferences of the partner selection (Buss, 2015). Secondly, social role theory urges that other
processes apart from biological, tend to dictate the social choices we make. It explains that the
rules placed during the selection of mates are highly dictated by the roles played by the male as
well as the female in the society. For example, women are involved with men who have got
power as well as money since society limits the ability of women to gain power and money.
This paper is going to focus mainly on the evolutionary theory whereby-in regards to attraction
and partner selection. It tries to compare and contrast gender differences in human attraction and
partner selection based on evolutionary theory as well as discussing how the differential

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 3
strategies for short and long terms that men and women utilize to promote their respective
reproductive interests using principles of evolutionary theory.
Comparison and Contrast of Gender Differences in Human Attraction and Partner
Selection
When it comes to human attraction and partner selection, different gender tends to go for
different qualities. Females have high preferences for economic resources. According to the
evolutionary theory, women are known to highly avoid the men with no resources co-signing
such as luxury apartments, cars, and businesses. Therefore, while selecting partners, women go
for the men who can show good financial prospects, men with honourable social status and
those who show trustworthiness and resilience in their daily activities. Furthermore, women
look at the physical abilities of the opposite gender before making their selection. Particularly,
most females focus on athletic ability, strength as well as the size (Buss, 2015).
Also, while selecting a partner, the women go for partners who are capable and also
willing to invest their time in them and offer a stable love as well as commitments. These
virtues are particularly important to ladies since they believe that it tends to set up an excellent
example to the children and to protect them as well. Contrary , men, are expected to find shelter,
provide food, protect the children and also defend the territory. These reimbursements are
improbable to be provided by a female in a relationship. Based on social constructs and
mentality that culture has instilled in humans, a man is supposed to be the primary provider of
essential needs and protection to those he loves. As a result, women would always consider the
capabilities of a man before making a decision to either accept the partner or sought for a better
person. Such cues could be indirect, such as the features of personality that cue a man’s rising

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 4
mobility. They could be physical, just like the athletic ability of the man or the man ’s health.
They also tend to include character, such as esteem, whereby, a man is held back by his peers
especially during decision making.
On the other hand, men are more concerned with beauty, age and emotional intelligence
in women. Primarily men are attracted to women who are approximately one and a half to five
years younger than them (Buss, 2015). Although there is a growing tendency of men being
attracted to older women, the attraction is most likely to be initiated by the women. As a result,
the man will find comfort in the arrangement and decide to select the partner despite the age
difference. Ideally, men’s preference in selection is usually unstable and unpredictable based on
their personality and experiences in relationships. Furthermore, most men are attracted to
women because of beauty and physical appearance alone. However, the selection of a suitable
partner is majorly based on the emotional intelligence of the woman (Buss, 2015).
Women seem to have resolved the adaptive issue of obtaining resources partially by
going for men who are slight of high status. Certainly, in case the women are forced to trade off
amongst different mate features, women line up social status, inspecting it as the most
significant “requirement” rather than a luxury. Ideally, women appraise men who own high-
status resources such as extravagance luxury apartments and high-prestige cars as, especially
striking potential mates. Similarly, men reach out more to women with the same social status
and base their selection majorly on age. Despite women considering the socioeconomic position
of men, the trend is the same is some perspectives. Men will at the time also prefer women with
potential economic excellence especially those with business-oriented mindsets.

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 5
To comprehend the reason as to why women value older mates contrary to men, we
have to consider the factors that tend to change with age. The hunting ability of the man also is
considered to be an active predator to the women. When placing their judgment matters, older
men are considered to be good warriors hence in a good position to protect both the female and
the children as well. However, much women are going out of the way when looking for their
preferences in the men, men in the other hand go for nothing more than a woman who can
maintain a home, take care of the children in a healthy not forgetting a mature manner and also
a woman who will respect them.
When it comes to emotional stability as well as the level of maturity, there appear a
significant difference between both genders. This is because women in the twenties value their
excellence as being meaningfully more than men. However, in reality, both the men and women
rate emotional constancy equally when trying to seek a suitable partner (Buss, 2015). These
features may have great value to women all over the world due to several reasons. Firstly,
because females expect that resources will consistently be provided to them by men over time.
Secondly, men lacking dependability or expressing instability show unpredictable capabilities
of taking care of the woman. As a result, men incline to be self-centered and dominate the
shared resources. However, they (men) show some crucial similarities to men when it comes to
commitment and love. Men prefer women with predictable patterns of emotions as well as a
commitment to honor the partner. Furthermore, both genders almost the same adaptive measure
to solving their problems of survival and reproduction.
According to the perspective of the evolutionary theory, it is indicated that preferences
are not foretold to operate indistinctly, unconscious to context or condition (Buss, 2015). Given
that in most cased women are neither given powered nor access to resources that are owned and

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 6
managed by the men, males tend to go for partners who have influence, good social status, as
well as the capacity to earn. As a result most females try to get married to such men because it
delivers their primary network for gaining entry to resources. Men, on the other hand, do not
rate economic incomes in a partner like women do because they are the ones with the control
over the resources also, because women have fewer possessions (Buss, 2015). While women are
still in a position to fulfill their evolved preference for a man, most seem to stagnate and focus
on material things. Generally, having individual control of financial resources seemingly does
not negate this partner preference.
Despite the differences in preferences between men and women in relation to attraction
and partner selection, there are few similarities as well. First, both genders are attracted to
partners who show emotional maturity. Through interaction, one is able to learn how each other
responds emotionally to particular situations. This value essential in partner selection as it
allows potential partners to learn and understand the emotional intelligence of each other.
Second, infidelity issues are central in both men and women when it comes to partner selection.
Both genders prefer partners who are committed to a monogamous relationship rather than
having multiple partners. Third, although psychological well-being is not physically evident,
both genders prefer dating or mating with a mentally sane person who shows no signs of
psychological issues such as high tempers, anger and unpredictable behaviour. Furthermore,
both men and women prefer partners who are extroverts and social. Lastly, both men and
women are more attracted to persons with a career, sense of personal development and
connectedness to social values. Anyone who is detached from societal principles is considered
unworthy and in most cases, few men or women can be attracted to them or even select them as
their partners.

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 7
Short-Term and Long-Term Strategies for Reproductive Interests
In regards to the issue of women’s long-term mate preferences, the modern women are
seen to have inherited their knowledge from their ancestors understanding about the type of men
they agree to make their partners. Traditional women who mated comprehensively were most
probably less reproductive and successful than those who are trained. Ideally, mates intended to
be for a long-term relationship equip themselves with a set of a treasure trove of possessions.
While selecting a semi-permanent mate, one should consider all the applicable assets and
personalities which will not make the partnership extremely complex in their endeavors. It
includes some specific preferences, each consistent to desire that helps both males and females
solve serious adaptive problems.
As a short-term strategy for females, they have high preferences for economic resources.
According to evolutionary theory, the selection of a partner is a crucial stage in fulfilling
reproductive interests in humans (Buss, 2015). Therefore, while selecting the partners, women
go for the men who can invest the good financial prospects, men with important social status
and the men with older age, athletic ability, strength as well as size. Men, on the other hand, are
become inclined in the beauty and personality of a woman. They primarily consider the
emotional control, calmness, and signs of being submissive. Above all, some men would seek to
find a lady whose, values they can inherit to make their co-existence much easier and healthy in
the long run.
Given that reproduction is seen as the apparatus that drives the process of evolution, the
psychological devices neighboring reproduction should be particularly strong marks of selection
(Buss, 2015). Ideally, different psychological adaptations reflect the differences that exist

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 8
between males and females about reproductive strategies. Among the long-term strategy
employed by both genders is a parental investment. Through this approach, partners can decide
how many children they need and commit themselves to raise them together. As a matter of
fact, this strategy not only allows partners to stick together and adapt to their reproductive
interests but also prevent the emergence of sexually dimorphic behaviors between them.
Additionally, assessment of mate value in the relationship is also a short-term strategy
that allows human to cope with their reproductive interests. Essentially, a partner looks into
issues related to financial strength, psychological well-being, abilities to offer sexual
satisfaction and fertility relates issues before committing themselves to each other for long term
partnership. Although the strategy is rarely used, it is still a mechanism used by some to
promote their reproductive interests. Notably, this is primarily done through flirting with
expressing sexual interest to one another. In the process, it is possible for males and females to
feel attracted to each other and eventually select and retain their mates to fulfill their
reproductive interests in the long run.
Another differential short term and long-term strategy employed by both men and
women to serve their respective reproductive interests is the issue of age consideration. Women
seem to have resolved the adaptive issue of obtaining resources partially by going for men who
are slightly older and with high financial status. Surely, in case the women are forced to trade
off amongst different mate features, women line up social status, reviewing it as the greatest
“requirement” rather than the luxury. Preference for older men is considered a hint also because
a man’s age also provides a slight clue about him. Therefore, it can tell whether the man is
capable of enduring a partnership and at the same time fulfilling the reproductive interests of a

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 9
woman. However, this scheme is mainly used as an attraction and selection appraisal criteria by
women rather than a strategy to promote their reproduction interests.
Lastly, both men and women use short-term sexual opportunities to pursue their long
term strategies for promoting reproductive interests. For males, it served as leeway of
understanding the personality of women and their viability to satisfy them in the long run.
Furthermore, before partner selection is initiated, short-term engagements both emotionally and
intimately may serve as a determining a factor for the extent each partner is going to meet their
respective reproductive interests. Ideally, sexual selection, in this case, is determined by the
short term opportunities that are created during the attraction period. Although the strategy may
not work for everyone, it is effective when both genders are willingly intending first to
determine the extent of satisfaction the other partner provides.
Conclusion
Differences exist between both genders in regards to attraction and partner selection.
While women are mostly concerned with social status, age and assurance of safety from a man,
men are only concerned with physical appearance and health. In essence, a man will be attracted
to multiple partners with different personalities, but selection approach will eventually eliminate
some of the women. Although casual relationships may still exist, love and commitment will
not be present. Under these circumstances, men will tend to select a partner who shows signs of
commitment, honesty and reproductively healthy. On the other hand, women yearn for access to
resources. Therefore, men with adequate resources will attract more females since women
perceive such men as being capable of providing them the social status they desire. However,

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 10
there are instances where attraction and selection of a partner solely rely on the personality of a
person and not social status, age or physical appearance.
Basing on evolutionary theory principles, both genders usually use almost similar
strategies in a quest to support their reproductive interests. Both consider creative interests
pivotal in a relationship and everyone strives to achieve it through all means. For instance,
females assess the values of a man to enable them to understand whether their reproductive
desires will be met in the long run. Furthermore, to initiate an attraction, men use flirting a
strategy to lure their mates which can later propagate to become a healthy relationship after each
one is attracted to the other. Ideally, evolutionary psychology plays a significant role in
understanding the issues relating to attraction and selection of partners in humans. Although the
concepts of attraction and selection remain mostly unchanged, modernization is making things
more complicated with women being the most affected. Unlike the traditional women who only
valued prestige of a man without necessarily needing to acquire them, the current generation of
females not only want to a high social status but also access to the same resources despite it
being provided by a man. Therefore, the differences in preference between men and women are
bound to continue increasing due to the changing cultural values.

ATTRACTION AND PARTNER SELECTION 11
Reference
Buss, D. (2015). Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind (5th ed.). London:
Taylor and Francis Group.