Desires in Human Mating

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Abstract
This chapter traces theoretical and empirical progress in the study of human mating over the past few decades. Early pre-evolutionary formula- tions proposed that men and women were identical in their mating motiva- tions. Most were simplistic, typically postulating a single motive for mating: the search for similarity, equity, or complementarity. Given the large sex dif- ferences in human reproductive biology, notably women bearing the burdens of internal fertilization and a greater obligatory parental investment, it would be extraordinarily unlikely that evolution by selection would fail to forge sex- differentiated mating strategies. Empirical research over the past 15 years has robustly confirmed evolutionary predictions in the domains of desire for sexual variety, the importance of fertility cues, and the importance of resource-provi- sioning. Recent work has revealed a hidden side of women's sexuality—a de- sire for extra-pair partners and the conditions under which this desire is expressed. We now have the theoretical and empirical outlines of an evolution- ary formulation of human mating strategies.

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