Testing Six Mate Preference Theories - Mate Preferences and Judgments in Mate Selection Process

Six mate preference theories; ideal personality mate preferences, stated mate preferences, revealed mate preferences, asymmetrical mate preference theory and positive and negative assortative mating, were tested on a large dataset (N=5733) of a Dutch dating site. The focus was on hetroseksuals that were looking for a long-term relationship. Personality characteristics, demographics, leisure activities, sociosexuality and attractiveness of individuals were analyzed in relation to the appreciation scores individuals gave each other. Most evidence is found for the asymmetrical mate preference theory derived from the social exchange theory. Individuals prefer others with a minimum of undesirable traits and maximum of desirable traits. The depreciation of undesirable traits is seen more often than the appreciation of desirable traits. This means that individuals prefer someone who scores the same or higher on desirable traits. In practice this mechanism will lead to similarity in partners.