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Marriage: an evolutionary perspective.

Glenn E Weisfeld1, Carol C Weisfeld

  • 1Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48207, USA. weisfeld@sun.science.wayne.edu

Neuro Endocrinology Letters
|December 24, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Marriage, a universal reproductive social arrangement, is influenced by evolutionary fitness and economic factors. Mate preferences and divorce risks are shaped by biological contributions, parental investment, and societal structures.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Anthropology

Background:

  • Marriage is a universal reproductive social arrangement, observed across cultures and species with dependent young.
  • Biological differences in parental investment shape distinct mate preferences between sexes.
  • Traditional marriage involved extended family structures and was influenced by economic and fitness considerations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the evolutionary and socio-economic factors influencing marriage and divorce.
  • To analyze cross-cultural variations in marital practices and stability.
  • To understand the interplay between individual mate preferences and societal influences on marriage.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-cultural data analysis.
  • Review of evolutionary and socio-economic theories.
  • Examination of factors influencing marital stability and divorce.

Main Results:

  • Mate preferences are shaped by biological contributions and fitness considerations (e.g., men seek young, faithful partners; women seek older, dominant partners).
  • Divorce is predicted by factors like infertility, sexual dissatisfaction, child mortality, and perceived low mate value.
  • Marital satisfaction and stability are influenced by economic independence of wives, female dominance, and societal norms, with higher divorce rates correlating with increased female economic power.

Conclusions:

  • Marriage functions as a reproductive strategy influenced by both biological imperatives and socio-economic conditions.
  • Cultural variations in marriage customs (polygyny, arranged marriages, chastity concerns) are explainable by economic and fitness factors.
  • Marital dynamics are complex, affected by individual preferences, spousal contributions, and broader societal influences like economic development and family structures.

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