Extremely high variability in genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in vertebrates is assumed to be a consequence of frequency-dependent parasite-driven selection and mate preferences based on promotion of offspring heterozygosity at MHC, or potentially, genome-wide inbreeding avoidance. Where effects have been found, mate choice studies on rodents and other species usually find preference for MHC-dissimilarity in potential partners. Here we critically review studies on MHC-associated mate choice in humans. These are based on three broadly different aspects: (1) odor preferences, (2) facial preferences and (3) actual mate choice surveys. As in animal studies, most odor-based studies demonstrate disassortative preferences, although there is variation in the strength and nature of the effects. In contrast, facial attractiveness research indicates a preference for MHC-similar individuals. Results concerning MHC in actual couples show a bias towards similarity in one study, dissimilarity in two studies and random distribution in several other studies. These vary greatly in sample size and heterogeneity of the sample population, both of which may significantly bias the results. This pattern of mixed results across studies may reflect context-dependent and/or life history sensitive preference expression, in addition to higher level effects arising out of population differences in genetic heterogeneity or cultural and ethnic restrictions on random mating patterns. Factors of special relevance in terms of individual preferences are reproductive status and long- vs. short-term mating context. We discuss the idea that olfactory and visual channels may work in a complementary way (i.e. odor preference for MHC-dissimilarity and visual preference for MHC-similarity) to achieve an optimal level of genetic variability, methodological issues and interesting avenues for further research.
Cílem této zprávy je představit výzkumný projekt „Vliv rodičovských charakteristik na výběr partnera“, který byl podpořen Grantovou agenturou ČR (GA18–15168S), řešený na Přírodovědecké fakultě UK. Jedná se o multioborový projekt zahrnující nejen psychologické, ale i biologické a chemické metody, čímž přispěje ke komplexnějšímu porozumění zkoumaného fenoménu. Hlavním cílem projektu je zjistit, zda si lidé vybírají partnery podobné svým rodičům opačného pohlaví ve tváři, tělesné vůni, hlasu, temperamentových a osobnostních charakteristikách.
The aim of this report is to present the research project „Effect of parental characteristics on mate choice“ supported by the Czech Science Foundation (GA18–15168S), conducted at the Faculty of Science of Charles University. It is a multidisciplinary project involving not only psychological but also biological and chemical methods, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the studied phenomenon. The main aim of the project is to investigate whether people choose mates similar to their opposite-sex parents in the face, body odor, voice, temperament, and personality.
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a core part of the adaptive immune system. As in other vertebrate taxa, it may also affect human chemical communication via odour-based mate preferences, with greater attraction towards MHC-dissimilar partners. However, despite some well-known findings, the available evidence is equivocal and made complicated by varied approaches to quantifying human mate choice. To address this, we here conduct comprehensive meta-analyses focusing on studies assessing: (i) genomic mate selection, (ii) relationship satisfaction, (iii) odour preference, and (iv) all studies combined. Analysis of genomic studies reveals no association between MHC-dissimilarity and mate choice in actual couples; however, MHC effects appear to be independent of the genomic background. The effect of MHC-dissimilarity on relationship satisfaction was not significant, and we found evidence for publication bias in studies on this area. There was also no significant association between MHC-dissimilarity and odour preferences. Finally, combining effect sizes from all genomic, relationship satisfaction, odour preference and previous mate choice studies into an overall estimate showed no overall significant effect of MHC-similarity on human mate selection. Based on these findings, we make a set of recommendations for future studies, focusing both on aspects that should be implemented immediately and those that lurk on the far horizon. We need larger samples with greater geographical and cultural diversity that control for genome-wide similarity. We also need more focus on mechanisms of MHC-associated odour preferences and on MHC-associated pregnancy loss. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Olfactory communication in humans'.
- MeSH
- Smell * MeSH
- Olfactory Perception * MeSH
- Major Histocompatibility Complex physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Marriage * MeSH
- Odorants * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Meta-Analysis MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 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.
A wide range of literature connects sex ratio and mating behaviours in non-human animals. However, research examining sex ratio and human mating is limited in scope. Prior work has examined the relationship between sex ratio and desire for short-term, uncommitted mating as well as outcomes such as marriage and divorce rates. Less empirical attention has been directed towards the relationship between sex ratio and mate preferences, despite the importance of mate preferences in the human mating literature. To address this gap, we examined sex ratio's relationship to the variation in preferences for attractiveness, resources, kindness, intelligence and health in a long-term mate across 45 countries (n = 14 487). We predicted that mate preferences would vary according to relative power of choice on the mating market, with increased power derived from having relatively few competitors and numerous potential mates. We found that each sex tended to report more demanding preferences for attractiveness and resources where the opposite sex was abundant, compared to where the opposite sex was scarce. This pattern dovetails with those found for mating strategies in humans and mate preferences across species, highlighting the importance of sex ratio for understanding variation in human mate preferences.
- MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Marriage MeSH
- Sex Characteristics * MeSH
- Sex Ratio * MeSH
- Reproduction MeSH
- Sexual Partners MeSH
- Choice Behavior MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in vertebrates are integral for effective adaptive immune response and are associated with sexual selection. Evidence from a range of vertebrates supports MHC-based preference for diverse and dissimilar mating partners, but evidence from human mate choice studies has been disparate and controversial. Methodologies and sampling peculiarities specific to human studies make it difficult to know whether wide discrepancies in results among human populations are real or artefact. To better understand what processes may affect MHC-mediated mate choice across humans and nonhuman primates, we performed phylogenetically controlled meta-analyses using 58 effect sizes from 30 studies across seven primate species. Primates showed a general trend favouring more MHC-diverse mates, which was statistically significant for humans. In contrast, there was no tendency for MHC-dissimilar mate choice, and for humans, we observed effect sizes indicating selection of both MHC-dissimilar and MHC-similar mates. Focusing on MHC-similar effect sizes only, we found evidence that preference for MHC similarity was an artefact of population ethnic heterogeneity in observational studies but not among experimental studies with more control over sociocultural biases. This suggests that human assortative mating biases may be responsible for some patterns of MHC-based mate choice. Additionally, the overall effect sizes of primate MHC-based mating preferences are relatively weak (Fisher's Z correlation coefficient for dissimilarity Zr = 0.044, diversity Zr = 0.153), calling for careful sampling design in future studies. Overall, our results indicate that preference for more MHC-diverse mates is significant for humans and likely conserved across primates.
- MeSH
- Major Histocompatibility Complex genetics MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Marriage * MeSH
- Genetics, Population * MeSH
- Mating Preference, Animal * MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Meta-Analysis MeSH
- MeSH
- Dominance-Subordination MeSH
- Fertility physiology MeSH
- Research Support as Topic MeSH
- Genetics, Population MeSH
- Fishes physiology genetics MeSH
- Selection, Genetic MeSH
- Sexual Behavior, Animal physiology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Comparative Study MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
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
- Adult MeSH
- Individuality * MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
- Sexual Behavior MeSH
- Sexual Partners MeSH
- Choice Behavior * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Review MeSH
Ve venkovském regionu západní Moravy byla objevena negativní asortativnost v uzavírání manželských svazků mezi postiženými refrakčními vadami očí. Celkem bylo sledováno 1241 manželství. 349 bylo uzavřeno mezi partnery, kteří byli postiženi jakoukoliv refrakční vadou očí o vyšších hodnotách než 1 OD. Z nich bylo myopických manželství 46, hyperopických 55, mezi astigmatiky 73. Ve 175 manželstvích byly u partnerů různé typy refrakčních vad a 161 bylo emetropických. Negativní asortativnost je vysoce statisticky významná (P < 0,001 při stupni volnosti vyšším než 6) v populaci z vesnic než ve městě. Svědčí pro spontánní pozitivní selekci ve prospěch zdravých genotypů i fenotypů.
Negative assortative mating for refractive errors of the eyes of 1241 married couples was discovered in the urban region of the South Moravian region. 46 married couples were myopic, 55 hyperopic, 73 astigmatic, 175 had combinations of refractive errors, 261 were emetropic and 631 weremixed. Negative assortative mating is highly significant (chi-square P < 0.001). It is more significant for urban population.Positive selection foremetropic marriedcouples playsmoreimportant role in urban peoples than in citizans.
- MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Longitudinal Studies MeSH
- Marriage MeSH
- Refractive Errors MeSH
- Choice Behavior MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Keywords
- kampaň Nursng Now,
- MeSH
- Nursing Care MeSH
- Social Perception MeSH
- Social Class MeSH
- Public Opinion MeSH
- Nurses MeSH
