Synonyms
Definition
Choosing a romantic partner in part or wholly based on information provided via others’ preferences and choices rather than relying solely on one’s own judgment about the attractiveness and suitability of a potential mate.
Introduction
Choosing a mate is a complex decision for an individual to make: there are myriad personal characteristics that potential mating partners possess which can each affect the chooser’s fitness. Some of these characteristics are physical traits which indicate high genetic quality, such as bilateral symmetry and cues to sex hormone levels. Others include a potential mate’s likely ability to negotiate their social world to their own benefit and to secure food and other resources. The large number of personal attributes that must be weighed-up in mate choice decisions means that individuals are likely to vary in their skill at choosing the best partner. The best partner in an evolutionary context is...
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References
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Waynforth, D. (2016). Mate Copying. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_20-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_20-1
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