Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

7-2026

Abstract

Although mate preferences have been extensively studied across various factors such as physical attractiveness or social status, their connection to life history strategy remains underexplored. Specifically, do individuals prefer mates who display signs of a fast or slow strategy? And what might qualify these preferences? Drawing from life history theory, we suggest that mate preferences are sensitive to cues of prospective mates' life history strategy, and that these preferences are malleable and shaped by ecological conditions. We hypothesize that in general, individuals will favor slow (versus fast) strategists as a mate. This is because modern environments are generally defined by physical safety and predictability. Additionally, we hypothesize that this preference for slow strategists is stronger when people seek long-term relationships compared to short-term ones. Finally, we propose that people prefer mates who display behavioral traits mirroring a life strategy (fast or slow) that is an adaptive fit for the ecological circumstances that they face. Specifically, we expect that the preference for slow strategists as mates is less prevalent among people who reside in harsher ecologies. Across two studies (N ~ 900), we find support for our hypotheses. These findings contribute to a more ecologically grounded understanding of human mate choice, highlighting how broader environmental forces shape adaptive social preferences.

Keywords

Mate choice, life history strategy, ecological harshness, mating strategy

Discipline

Applied Behavior Analysis | Social Psychology

Research Areas

Psychology

Publication

Personality and Individual Differences

Volume

257

First Page

1

Last Page

11

ISSN

0191-8869

Identifier

10.1016/j.paid.2026.113807

Publisher

Elsevier

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2026.113807

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