Mate Selection

Looking back on the previous research I have read, it is all too clear that men and women have fundamental differences in what they want in a marriage partner. Could this be a reason for the double standard of promiscuity? These basic differences, from an Evolutionary Psychologists perspective, could explain why today's  society stresses this double standard about promiscuity.

Relating back to Schmitt's article from my previous blog post, he believes that the differences between what males want and females want are distinct. Research has shown that long term, men prefer youth and physical attractiveness while women prefer men who are older, intelligent, and ambitious.

Helen E. Fisher, PhD, (pictured above) is a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University who has written numerous books about the mating strategies and habits of men and women. She made a statement regarding the idea of youth and physical beauty that I found really interesting; she said, "Men and looking for youth and beauty, women know that. They do try to look young and pretty. It is remarkable how the makeup and clothing industry constantly plays on this. Makeup makes the face clearer, the eyes bigger, the lips more baby-like red, the hair the sweet light color of youth. Clothing, too: The belts and things that show off the waist-to-hip ratio, the tight blue jeans and shirts that mold the figure. Both sexes always know these things". 


Could this idea of men always striving for the next young thing make it okay for men to be promiscuous in search of it? Could this idea of perfection lead women to be promiscuous in return for feeling wanted?