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Full-Text Articles in Social Psychology
The Necessities And Luxuries Of Mate Preferences: Testing The Tradeoffs, Norman P. Li, J. Michael Bailey, Douglas T. Kenrick, Joan A. W. Linsenmeier
The Necessities And Luxuries Of Mate Preferences: Testing The Tradeoffs, Norman P. Li, J. Michael Bailey, Douglas T. Kenrick, Joan A. W. Linsenmeier
Research Collection School of Social Sciences
Social exchange and evolutionary models of mate selection incorporate economic assumptions but have not considered a key distinction between necessities and luxuries. This distinction can clarify an apparent paradox: Status and attractiveness, though emphasized by many researchers, are not typically rated highly by research participants. Three studies supported the hypothesis that women and men first ensure sufficient levels of necessities in potential mates before considering many other characteristics rated as more important in prior surveys. In Studies 1 and 2, participants designed ideal long-term mates, purchasing various characteristics with 3 different budgets. Study 3 used a mate-screening paradigm and showed …