While there is substantial research on what people want in their romantic and sexual partners, much of this work focuses on WEIRD, youthful samples, fails to consider the role of undesirable characteristics (i.e., things people do not want in partners) at all, or in conjunction with desirable characteristics (i.e., things people do want in partners), and may be overly reliant on psychometric approaches to pivotal variables in mating psychology like mate value and sociosexuality. In a nationally representative (online) sample of 2280 people from Czechia (aged between 18 and 50 years old), we examined linear and quadratic age, education, and self-perceived mate value (desirability) effects on the desired levels in mate choice of eight undesirable and seven desirable characteristics in men and women in relation to ostensible metrics of mate value. Self-perceived mate value alone explained little variance (men 1%, women 2%), while all mate value and mating strategy indicators together explained little variance of mate preferences and aversions (men 3%, women 5%). Desirable characteristics were better explained by mate value than undesirable ones. Our results are in line with evolutionary predictions suggesting that women are more demanding. Also, more qualities to offer correlate with more expectations in a partner.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- interpersonální vztahy MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- manželství psychologie MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- sebepojetí MeSH
- sexuální chování psychologie MeSH
- sexuální partneři * psychologie MeSH
- výběrové chování MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Couples often resemble each other in characteristics like depression, but the reasons for this homogamy (i.e., similarity) remain unclear. We investigated two potential mechanisms: preference for a self-similar partner and convergence (i.e., increasing similarity) over time. In a nationally representative sample of 2,793 Czech individuals who we surveyed three times in one year, we examined self-reports of participants', their ideal partners', and their actual partners' "pessimism and depressiveness". Participants preferred partners less depressive than themselves, yet their actual partners were more depressive than desired. Those who ended their relationships showed a greater ideal-versus-actual partner discrepancy than those who stayed together. In stable relationships, individuals adjusted their ideal preferences to align more closely with their actual partners over time. We identified four relationship classes with latent class growth modeling based on self and partner evaluations: both non-depressive, both depressive, self depressive and partner non-depressive, and self non-depressive and partner depressive. Romantic relationships were most stable when both partners were non-depressive and most likely to dissolve when both were depressive. While we failed to detect convergence overall, we found it within heterogamous (i.e., dissimilar) classes. Overall, our findings suggest that homogamy and heterogamy in depressiveness are complexly associated with relationship maintenance.
- MeSH
- charakteristiky rodiny MeSH
- deprese * psychologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- interpersonální vztahy MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- longitudinální studie MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- sexuální partneři * psychologie MeSH
- zpráva o sobě MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
453 stran : ilustrace, portréty ; 21 cm
Publikace se zaměřuje na lidské rozmnožování, sexualitu, pohlaví a gender z interdisciplinární perspektivy, zejména biologie a behaviorálních věd. Určeno odborné veřejnosti
- MeSH
- biologická evoluce MeSH
- biologie MeSH
- dějiny MeSH
- filozofie MeSH
- genderová identita MeSH
- pohlaví MeSH
- rozmnožování MeSH
- sexualita MeSH
- sexuální chování MeSH
- Konspekt
- Hygiena. Lidské zdraví
- NLK Obory
- behaviorální vědy
- přírodní vědy
- NLK Publikační typ
- kolektivní monografie
Mate value is an important concept in mate choice research although its operationalization and understanding are limited. Here, we reviewed and evaluated previously established conceptual and methodological approaches measuring mate value and presented original research using individual differences in how people view themselves as a face-valid proxy for mate value in long- and short-term contexts. In data from 41 nations (N = 3895, Mage = 24.71, 63% women, 47% single), we tested sex, age, and relationship status effects on self-perceived mate desirability, along with individual differences in the Dark Triad traits, life history strategies, peer-based comparison of desirability, and self-reported mating success. Both sexes indicated more short-term than long-term mate desirability; however, men reported more long-term mate desirability than women, whereas women reported more short-term mate desirability than men. Further, individuals who were in a committed relationship felt more desirable than those who were not. Concerning the cross-sectional stability of mate desirability across the lifespan, in men, short- and long-term desirability rose to the age of 40 and 50, respectively, and decreased afterward. In women, short-term desirability rose to the age of 38 and decreased afterward, whereas long-term desirability remained stable over time. Our results suggest that measuring long- and short-term self-perceived mate desirability reveals predictable correlates.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- individualita * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- sexuální chování MeSH
- sexuální partneři MeSH
- výběrové chování * MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Mate choice in humans is specific by the involvement of kin both in partner choice and in the functioning of the relationship. The influence of relatives ranges from providing advice all the way to arranged marriages. Existing research so far tended to map neither the actual parental interventions and further reactions (counteractions) nor the independently pursued behavior (actions) by which the offspring or their partners assert their interests. This study identified such sets of behaviors through semi-structured individual interviews with members of 20 dyads of adult offspring and their biological parents (five son-mother, five son-father, five daughter-mother, and five daughter-father dyads). Thematic analysis revealed sets of parental actions aimed at the offspring, their partners, and the couple as a whole, as well as further counteractions (reactions to parental interference) and independently pursued behavior (actions) of the offspring and their partners aimed at the parents in the context of the offspring's previous or current relationship. Our findings showed that parental interference differed depending on the recipient: toward the couple were applied mainly indirect and supportive parental actions, whereas when facing their offspring or offspring's partner, parents' actions were more direct and disruptive. Our results thus indicate the importance of reporting about actual interactions which differ from the hypothetical settings used in prior studies by lower intensity. Moreover, by interviewing both members of dyads, we expanded the sets of actions and counteractions identified by prior studies and managed to limit self-reporting bias.
Since Darwin proposed that human musicality evolved through sexual selection, empirical evidence has supported intersexual selection as one of the adaptive functions of artistic propensities. However, intrasexual competition has been overlooked. We tested their relative importance by investigating the relationship between the self-perceived talent/expertise in 16 artistic and 2 sports modalities and proxies of intersexual selection (i.e., mate value, mating and parenting efforts, sociosexuality, and number of sexual partners) and intrasexual competition (i.e., aggressiveness, intrasexual competitiveness) in heterosexuals. Participants were 82 Brazilian men, 166 Brazilian women, 146 Czech men, and 458 Czech women (Mage = 26.48, SD = 7.12). Factor analysis revealed five factors: Literary-arts (creative writing, humor, acting/theater/film, poetry, storytelling), Visual-arts (painting/drawing, sculpting, handcrafting, culinary arts, architecture design), Musical-arts (playing/instruments, singing, dance, whistling), Circus-arts (juggling, acrobatics), and Sports (individual, collective). Multivariate General Linear Model (GLM) showed more associations of the arts to intersexual selection in women and to intrasexual selection in men, and overall more relationships in women than in men. In women, literary and musical-arts were related to elevated inter- and intrasexual selections proxies, visual and circus-arts were related to elevated intersexual selection proxies, and sports were related to intrasexual selection proxies. In men, literary-arts and sports were related to elevated inter- and intrasexual selection proxies, musical-arts were related to intrasexual proxies, and circus-arts were related to intersexual proxies; visual-arts did not have predictors. Although present in both sexes, each sexual selection component has different relative importance in each sex. Artisticality functions to attract and maintain long/short-term partners, and to compete with mating rivals.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The occurrence of depression is influenced by social relationships, however, most studies focus on individuals, not couples. We aimed to study how depressive symptoms of couples evolve over time and determine, which characteristics are associated with their distinct trajectories. A multi-centric cohort sample of 11,136 heterosexual couples (mean age = 60.76) from 16 European countries was followed for up to 12 years (SHARE study). Information on depressive symptoms measured by EURO-D scale was collected every 2 years. Dyadic growth mixture modeling extracted four distinct classes of couples: both non-depressed (76.91%); only women having consistently high depressive symptoms while men having consistently low depressive symptoms (8.08%); both having increasing depressive symptoms (7.83%); and both having decreasing depressive symptoms (7.18%). Couples with increasing depressive symptoms had the highest prevalence of relationship dissolution and bereavement. In comparison to the nondepressed class, individuals with any depressive symptoms were less psychologically and physically well. Our results suggest that distinct mechanisms are responsible for couples' various longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms.
- MeSH
- deprese * diagnóza epidemiologie MeSH
- interpersonální vztahy * MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- longitudinální studie MeSH
- prevalence MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
[Couple homogamy and quality of the relationship]
Výběr partnera není náhodný. Nenáhodné (asortativní) párování může být pozitivní (homogamie), kdy lidé vytvářejí páry se soběpodobnými (self-similar) partnery, nebo negativní (heterogamie, komplementarita), kdy mají partneři charakteristiky soběodlišné (self-different). Více než sto let výzkumu ukázalo, že v párování se výrazně častěji uplatňuje princip homogamie. Jelikož se jedná o jeden z nejvýznamnějších principů párování, je homogamie dlouhodobě zkoumána napříč obory, od psychologie, sociologie, psychiatrie, etologie, po antropologii. Cílem této narativní přehledové studie je uceleně představit a kriticky shrnout současný stav poznání v oblasti pozitivního nenáhodného párování, se zaměřením na empirickou podporu (partnerská podobnost v socio-demografických, psychologických a fyzických charakteristikách), faktory ovlivňující homogamii (sexuální orientace či kultura) a dopady partnerské soběpodobnosti na partnerský vztah (spokojenost a stabilita vztahu). Závěrem jsou diskutována metodická úskalí výzkumu a navrženy směry, jimiž by se mohl budoucí výzkum ubírat. Vzhledem k interdisciplinaritě tématu a obrovskému množství textů zabývajícím se pozitivním nenáhodným párováním věříme, že tento text napomůže čtenářům zorientovat se v komplexní problematice, jakou homogamie je.
People do not choose their partners randomly. Assortative mating can be either positive (homogamy), meaning people couple with self-similar partners, or negative (heterogamy, complementarity), meaning they couple with self-different partners. More than a hundred years of research have shown that in mate choice the principle of homogamy is significantly more prevalent. Being one of the most prominent principles of pairing, homogamy is studied across disciplines, varying from psychology, sociology, psychiatry, ethology, to anthropology. The aim of this narrative review is to comprehensively present and critically summarize the current state of knowledge in the field of positive assortative pairing, with the focus on empirical support (partner similarity in socio-demographic, psychological, and physical characteristics), factors influencing homogamy (sexual orientation or culture) and the effects of homogamy on the relationship (satisfaction and stability of the relationship). Finally, the methodological pitfalls of the research are discussed and the directions for the future research are suggested. Due to the interdisciplinarity of the topic and the large number of papers investigating positive assortative pairing, we believe that this review will help readers to navigate themselves through the complex issue of homogamy.
Vyhýbání se sexu s příbuznými neboli incestu je považováno za univerzální jev. Jednotlivé obory se však liší vysvětlením vzniku zábrany incestu. Cílem této přehledové studie je představit teorie vyhýbání se incestu z perspektivy kulturní a evoluční antropologie, a přispět tak k pochopení komplexity celé problematiky. Důvodem nízkého výskytu incestu může být existence incestního tabu, představující ustanovené společenské normy a zvyklosti, které incestu zabraňují. Univerzalita incestního tabu se však týká pouze nukleární rodiny, pro širší příbuzenstvo je vysoce kulturně variabilní. Nízký výskyt incestu může být také důsledkem tzv. Westermarckova efektu, při němž dochází ke vzniku sexuální averze mezi jedinci, kteří spolu vyrůstali (tj. obvykle příbuzní jedinci). Empirické studie ukazují, že jedinci, kteří spolu vyrůstali v úzkém kontaktu zhruba do 6 let věku se vzájemně sexuálně nepřitahují. V závěru navrhujeme rozlišovat mezi sexuální indiferencí (tj. absencí přitažlivosti) vůči příbuzným v běžných sociálních interakcích a sexuální averzí, která je specifická pro sexuální kontext.
Avoiding sex with relatives alias incest is considered to be a universal phenomenon. Individual disciplines, however, differ in their explanation of the emergence of incest avoidance. This review aims to introduce the theories of incest avoidance from the point of view of cultural and evolutionary anthropology and thus contribute to the understanding of the complex phenomenon. The reason for the low occurrence of incest might be the existence of the incest taboo – the established social norms and conventions that prevent incest. However, the universality of the incest taboo is limited only to the nuclear family; the incest taboo with respect to wider kin has high cultural variability. The low occurrence of incest might also be a consequence of the so-called Werstermarck effect, i.e., the emergence of sexual aversion among individuals that grew up together (usually relatives), empirical studies show that individuals that grew up together in close contact until approximately six years old are not attracted to each other. Therefore, we conclude that it is important to distinguish between sexual indifference (i.e., the absence of attractivity) towards relatives in daily social interactions and sexual aversion specific to a sexual context.
