Secular change in degree of assortative mating for ability?

Area of Science:

• Human behavior
• Sociology
• Genetics

Background:

• Assortative mating, the tendency for individuals to mate with similar others, is a significant factor in population genetics and social structure.
• Previous research has explored the degree of assortative mating across various traits and populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine secular trends in the degree of assortative mating.
• To identify potential changes in homogamy over time through a review of published literature.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on assortative mating.
• Comparative analysis of findings from studies conducted in different time periods.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests a potential secular change in the degree of assortative mating.
• More recent studies indicate a decrease in homogamy compared to earlier research.

Conclusions:

• The findings suggest a possible decline in assortative mating over time.
• Further research is needed to confirm and understand the drivers of this observed trend in mate selection.