Choosing a Mate Close to Your Mate Value
Finding a Mate Closer to Your Mate Value: Online Versus Traditional Forums
Amy Holmes
Kennesaw State University
Abstract
I will investigate whether finding a mate closer in mate value could be achieved with greater success through online dating than through other traditional forms of dating. There can be significant implications when individuals chose mates that are not close to their own mate value. The study includes 60 single participants with equal numbers of men and women, between the age of 20–50 years of age from the United States. These participants are randomly assigned to either an online group or speed dating group. At the beginning of the study the participants rated their own mate value and then of the “best” date they meet during the study using the Mate Value Inventory (MVI; Kirsner, Figueredo, & Jacobs, 2003); these data will be compared to see if the participants in the online dating group found mates closer in mate value to their own. I expect to find that participants in the online group would be more likely to find mates closer in mate value to their own based on the fact that there is a larger number of individuals in which to chose from. The implication of individuals finding a mate closer in mate value to their own could mean that the couple stay together longer which could lead to more resources for their children which could lead to stronger offspring.
Finding a Mate Closer to Your Mate Value: Online Versus Traditional Forums
Mate value is a measure of one’s desirability as a mate. Mate value reflects genetic fitness that an individual can pass on to future offspring (Kirsner, Figueredo, & Jacobs, 2003). Miller (as cited in Kirsner et al., 2002) describes genetic fitness as relying on traits selected for through evolution. These traits include providing for offspring so they are able to pass their genes into the next generation. Mate value cannot be rated by any outward observations, but rated through observable
Amy Holmes
Kennesaw State University
Abstract
I will investigate whether finding a mate closer in mate value could be achieved with greater success through online dating than through other traditional forms of dating. There can be significant implications when individuals chose mates that are not close to their own mate value. The study includes 60 single participants with equal numbers of men and women, between the age of 20–50 years of age from the United States. These participants are randomly assigned to either an online group or speed dating group. At the beginning of the study the participants rated their own mate value and then of the “best” date they meet during the study using the Mate Value Inventory (MVI; Kirsner, Figueredo, & Jacobs, 2003); these data will be compared to see if the participants in the online dating group found mates closer in mate value to their own. I expect to find that participants in the online group would be more likely to find mates closer in mate value to their own based on the fact that there is a larger number of individuals in which to chose from. The implication of individuals finding a mate closer in mate value to their own could mean that the couple stay together longer which could lead to more resources for their children which could lead to stronger offspring.
Finding a Mate Closer to Your Mate Value: Online Versus Traditional Forums
Mate value is a measure of one’s desirability as a mate. Mate value reflects genetic fitness that an individual can pass on to future offspring (Kirsner, Figueredo, & Jacobs, 2003). Miller (as cited in Kirsner et al., 2002) describes genetic fitness as relying on traits selected for through evolution. These traits include providing for offspring so they are able to pass their genes into the next generation. Mate value cannot be rated by any outward observations, but rated through observable
References: American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060–1073. Buss, D. M., Shackelford, T. K., Kirkpatrick, L. A., & Larsen, R. J. (2001). A half century of mate preferences: The cultural evolution of values. Journal of Marriage & Family, 63(2), 491–503. doi:10.1111/j.1741-3737.2001.00491.x GMI (2006) Juds, J. (2012). U.s. census bureau . Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html Kirsner, B McKenna, K. Y. A., Green, A. S., & Gleason, M. E. J. (2002). Relationship formation on the internet: What’s the big attraction? Journal of Social Issues, 58(1), 9–31. doi:10.1111/1540-4560.00246 Parks, M Paumgarten, N. (2011). Looking for someone. New Yorker, 87(19), 36–49. Rosen, L Sautter, J. M., Tippett, R. M., & Morgan, S. P. (2010). The social demography of internet dating in the United States. Social Science Quarterly, 91(2), 554–575. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6237.2010.00707.x Selznick, D