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It is not all about mating: Attractiveness predicts partner value across multiple relationship domains
Adar B Eisenbruch1, Aaron W Lukaszewski2, James R Roney1
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences,University of California,Santa Barbara,Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9660Eisenbruch@psych.ucsb.edujames.roney@psych.ucsb.eduhttp://www.adareisenbruch.comhttps://www.psych.ucsb.edu/people/faculty/roney.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|March 23, 2017
Summary
Attractiveness influences social preferences beyond mating. Evolved preferences for attractive partners in various cooperative contexts better explain preferential treatment than mating-only models.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- The
- beauty premium
- is often explained solely by mating motivations.
- This narrow focus may overlook broader evolutionary principles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a more comprehensive adaptationist model for social valuation.
- To explain attractiveness-based preferential treatment across multiple social domains.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of existing research on social valuation and attractiveness.
- Critique of mating-specific explanations for the beauty premium.
- Development of an alternative framework based on evolved cooperative preferences.
Main Results:
- Mating-only accounts inadequately explain the pervasive effects of attractiveness.
- An adaptationist model incorporating multiple cooperative domains offers superior explanatory power.
- Evolved preferences for attractive partners extend beyond mating contexts.
Conclusions:
- Social valuation of attractiveness is rooted in broader evolutionary adaptations for cooperation.
- A wider lens, beyond mating, is necessary to fully understand the beauty premium.
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