Physical Cues of Partner Quality

Authors: Stephen, I.D. and Luoto, S.

Pages: 42-73

DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197524718.013.2

Abstract:

The dominant evolutionary theory of sexual attraction posits that attraction serves as a psychobehavioral and motivational mechanism for identifying healthy, fertile, and appropriate mates. According to this theory, humans and animals display cues that reflect their mate quality and, if successful, are perceived as attractive by potential mates. There is evidence for such valid cues in human faces, bodies, and non-bodily traits, which include adornments and items that signal provisioning ability, creativity, artistic skills, or conspicuous consumption. In this chapter, we discuss the evidence for the existence of these facial, bodily, and non-bodily cues and for their role in communicating aspects of partner quality, including health, fertility, developmental stability, genetic quality, and potential for parental investment. We further discuss sex differences in the physical cues that men and women rely on in mate choice. We conclude by highlighting the centrality and evolutionary importance of physical cues in contemporary sexual selection, and how they manifest in evolutionarily novel inventions such as physical self-enhancements, “sexy selfies,” social media, and online dating.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39380/

Source: Scopus

Physical cues of partner quality

Authors: Stephen, I. and Luoto, S.

Editors: Shackelford, T. and Mogilski, J.

Publisher: Oxford University Press

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39380/

Source: Manual

Physical cues of partner quality

Authors: Stephen, I. and Luoto, S.

Editors: Mogilski, J.K. and Shackelford, T.K.

Pages: 42-73

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Place of Publication: Kettering

ISBN: 9780197524718

Abstract:

Evolutionary social science is having a renaissance. This volume showcases the empirical and theoretical advancements produced by the evolutionary study of romantic relationships. The editors assembled an international collection of contributors to trace how evolved psychological mechanisms shape strategic computation and behavior across the life span of a romantic partnership. Each chapter provides an overview of historic and contemporary research on the psychological mechanisms and processes underlying the initiation, maintenance, and dissolution of romantic relationships. Contributors discuss popular and cutting-edge methods for data analysis and theory development, critically analyze the state of evolutionary relationship science, and provide discerning recommendations for future research. The handbook integrates a broad range of topics (e.g., partner preference and selection, competition and conflict, jealousy and mate guarding, parenting, partner loss and divorce, and post-relationship affiliation) that are discussed alongside major sources of strategic variation in mating behavior, such as sex and gender diversity, developmental life history, neuroendocrine processes, technological advancement, and culture. Its content promises to enrich students’ and established researchers’ views on the current state of the discipline and should challenge a diverse cross-section of relationship scholars and clinicians to incorporate evolutionary theorizing into their professional work.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/39380/

https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/45634

Source: BURO EPrints