SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY – PSY0103

Choosing a mate

Group members: 1) Nicholas Yap - 0314058

2) Melvin Lim - 0315772

3) Teo Chong Yih - 0314660

4) Mak Mun Choon - 0314928

5) Lily Then - 0313973

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

FOUNDATION IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Introduction

Selecting a mate is a purpose in our lives. Every human will to choose a mate as their future wife or husband. Mate selecting is an evolutionary process in which selection of a mate depends on attractiveness of its traits. Humans are in a small minority in the important way for over 95 percent of other mammals, family arrangements involving male care of offspring are non-existent. Across human societies, though, men and women bond together in marriage.

Not all human mating occurs within such bonds; within and across societies, polygamous arrangements are relatively common. In considering how and why people choose mates, therefore, two points are significant, there are variations as well as universalities across cultures, and distinction between selection of mates for short-term relationships versus long-term relationships.

The discussion below begins with research and theories focused on immediate psychological triggers of mate choice, and moves through progressively like relationship exchange, cultural and historical factors, and evolutionary history. Like the single frames, scenes, and overall plot of a movie, are complementary, and all are required to see the "big picture" of mate selection.

In conclusion, there are different between male and female in selecting a mate therefore in this assignment research will show the different and the compare between male and female in the choice of their selecting a mate.

Introduction

Method

• Participants that were involved in this survey were mostly the teenagers, majorities were Taylor’s University’s students and minorities were from other places.

• There were 100 participants participated in this survey.

Participants

Materials• Computer, printer and papers for the questionnaires.

Method

J

Choose a topic:Selecting a mate

J

Form a hypothesis:

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Quantitative or Qualitative: Decided to use Quantitative

research

Do a survey around campus and other

places by giving out questionnaires.

J

Collected 100 forms, analyze data

and evaluate.

J

Translate data into graphs.

J

Produced a research report.

Results

A B C D E F G H0

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Mode of figure 1: A (84)

Figure 1 shows that the top three factors that participants think is important when selecting a mate. The list below shows what the symbols’ represent.

A: KindnessB: IntelligentC: Physical AppearanceD: Highly EducatedE: HealthyF: WealthyG: Religious OrientationH: Family Background

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there are 84 responses for factor A (Kindness). It was the highest amount of responses among all other factors. The second highest response was factor B (Intelligent) and the amount of response was 56. The factor that receives the lowest response was factor F (Wealthy) as in the amount of only 10 responses.

1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 to 25 26 to 30 Non of Above

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60 Acceptable Age difference

Mode of figure 2: 1 to 5 (57)

Figure 2 shows that what range of the age difference is acceptable for the participants when choosing a mate.

Results

Through the figure above, researchers found out that most of the participants accept the age difference range of 1 to 5. There were 57 participants that chosen the 1 to 5 range of the acceptable age difference. There were 0 participants that were able to accept 11 to 15 range of the acceptable age difference. So it was the lowest amount of people in the figure above.

Results

Yes No0%

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Distance Relationship

Figure 3 shows that the amount of participants that can accept long distance relationship.

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there were 57% of participants were able to accept long distance relationship. However, there were 43% of participants who were not able to accept long distance relationship

Agree Disagree0%

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Different Races

Figure 4 shows that would participants consider dating someone from a different race than participants themselves.

Results

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there were 56% of participants would consider dating someone from a different race when selecting a mate. However, there were also 44% of participants wouldn’t consider dating someone from a different race when selecting a mate.

Yes No0

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Bad Family Background

Figure 5 shows that could participants accept bad family history background such as drug addiction

Results

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there were 27% of participants could accept bad family history background when selecting a mate. However, there were 74% of participants could not accept bad family history background when selecting a mate.

Agree Disagree0

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Online Dating

Figure 6 shows participants’ thought that will online dating works. dating works use this method when selecting a mate.

Results

Yes No0

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If agree, will you do?

Figure 7 was related with figure 6, it shows that will the participants who agree online

Through figure 6, researchers found out that there were 21 participants think that online dating works when selecting a mate. However, there were 79 participants who disagrees that online dating works when selecting a mate.

According to figure 7, among the 21 participants think that online dating works when selecting a mate, there were only 9 participants will use this method and there were 12 participants will not use this method.

Results

Agree Disagree0

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Speed Dating

Yes No0

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If agree, will you do?

Figure 8 shows participants’ thought that will speed dating works. Dating works use this method when selecting a mate.

Figure 9 was related with figure 8, it shows that will the participants who agree speed

Through figure 8, researchers found out that there were 23 participants think that speed dating works when selecting a mate. However, there were 77 participants who disagrees that speed dating works when selecting a mate.

According to figure 9, among the 23 participants think that speed dating works when selecting a mate, there were only 10 participants will use this method and there were 13 participants will not use this method.

Agree Disagree0

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Blind Dating

Yes No12

12.5

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If agree, will you do?

Results

Figure 10 shows participants’ thought that will blind dating works. Dating works use this method when selecting a mate.

Figure 10 was related with figure 11, it shows that will the participants who agree blind.

Through figure 10, researchers found out that there were 28 participants think that blind dating works when selecting a mate. However, there were 72 participants who disagrees that blind dating works when selecting a mate.

According to figure 11, among the 28 participants think that blind dating works when selecting a mate, there were only 13 participants will use this method and there were 15 participants will not use this method.

Conclusion

Most people prefer their mate which is kind, intelligence and good physical appearance instead of just rich and good-looking.

Characteristics are important which can provide information on the ability and willingness of the man to be loyal towards the wife and children.

Buss (1989) found that women rated prospective husband who was kind, understanding and intelligent more than a prospective husband who was none of these but only had the potential to become culturally successful.

Women and men prefer sexually attractive partners, but this preference is consistently found to be more important a necessity and not a luxury for men than for women (Buss, 1989; Feingold, 1990; Hatfield & Sprecher, 1995; Li et al., 2002; Oda 2001). From evolutionary perspective, men’s ratings of women’s attractiveness are related to the women’s fertility.

1) Feingold, A. (1992). Gender differences in mate selection preferences: A test of the parental investment model. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 125-139.

2） Buss, D. M. (1989). Sex differences in human mate preferences: Evolutionary hypothesis tested in 37 cultures. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 12, 1-49

3） Gangestad, S. W, & Simpson, J. A. (2000). The evolution of human mating: Trade-offs and strategic pluralism. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 23, 573-644

4） Gangestad, S. W., & Buss, D. M. (1993). Pathogen prevalence and human mate preferences. Ethology and Sociobiology, 14, 89-96.

5） Gangestad, S. W. (1993). Sexual selection and physical attractiveness. Human Nature, 4, 205-235.

6）Mehta, V (2013). A recent study lends insight into age differences in romantic relationships [website]. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-games/201308/when-it-comes-dating-do-age-differences-matter

7） Cosmides, L; Tooby J (13 January 1997). "Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer". Center for Evolutionary Psychology. Retrieved 2008-02-16.

8） David C. G, Jacob. V & Jennifer B.C (2003). Evolution of Human Mate Choice. Personal and behavioral attribution, 31, 23-67.

9） Larry A. N. Selecting a Mate [website]. Retrieved from http://www.drnadig.com/selecting.htm

References