GENDER DIFFERENCES IN MATE SELECTION

Evolutionary theory is often invoked to explain gender differences in mate selection. If the motive to reproduce explains men’s attraction to young (pretty) women and women’s attraction to financially stable men—as evolutionary psychologists claim—then how does it explain the increasing number of women who do not depend on men for financial stability because they are themselves economically independent?

Or, how does one explain the increasing number of women who choose not to have children? If they do not plan to have children, then they certainly do not need a financially stable mate committed to the long-term care of offspring they do not intend to have. Or, how can evolutionary theory explain the increasing number of women who are not married yet have children?

For this Discussion, you will examine conditions that influence diffusion of responsibility from the perspective of mate selection. 

TO PREPARE

Review the Learning Resources for this week and examine how social psychology theories and research explain mate selection.

Compare evolutionary theory and social psychology theories as they apply to mate selection.LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Readings

• Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., & Sommers, S. R. (Eds.). (2019). Social psychology (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
• Chapter 10, “Attraction and Relationships: From Initial Impressions to Long-Term Intimacy”

Chapter 11, “Prosocial Behavior: Why Do People Help?”