Cultural sexual selection in monogamous human populations.

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Behavioral ecology
• Social sciences

Background:

• Human mating preferences can be peculiar, not always enhancing direct or indirect fitness.
• Cultural transmission and artificial modification of preferences and traits are significant in humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop theoretical models explaining the evolution of irrational mating preferences in humans.
• To investigate the role of cultural transmission and trait modification in shaping mating behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Theoretical modeling of a monogamous population with cultural transmission.
• Incorporation of mate failure and its impact on preference and trait dynamics.
• Analysis of scenarios with restricted trait modification.

Main Results:

• Strong aversion to or tolerance of individuals failing to find mates are crucial for evolving irrational preferences.
• Cultural transmission of preferences and traits facilitates the evolution of such irrationality more than genetic transmission.
• These models can partially explain preferences for exaggerated physical and cultural traits.

Conclusions:

• Sociocultural factors, including mate failure and cultural transmission, can drive the evolution of seemingly irrational human mating preferences.
• These preferences may not be linked to genetic benefits but can be maintained through cultural dynamics.
• The findings offer insights into the diversity of human mate choice and the influence of social learning.