Assortative Pairing and Life History Strategy

• Published in: Human nature (Hawthorne, N.Y.) Vol. 20; no. 3; pp. 317 - 330
• Main Authors: Figueredo, Aurelio Jose, Wolf, Pedro S A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2009
• Subjects: Comparative Analysis; Couples; Friendship; Interpersonal Relations; Life History
• ISSN: 1045-6767
• DOI: 10.1007/s12110-009-9068-2

A secondary analysis was performed on preliminary data from an ongoing cross-cultural study on assortative pairing. Independently sampled pairs of opposite-sex romantic partners and of same-sex friends rated themselves and each other on Life History (LH) strategy and mate value. Data were collected in local bars, clubs, coffeehouses, and other public places from three different cultures: Tucson, Arizona; Hermosillo, Sonora; and San Jose, Costa Rica. The present analysis found that slow LH individuals assortatively pair with both sexual and social partners more strongly than fast LH individuals. We interpret this phenomenon as representing (1) an adaptation for preserving coadapted genomes in slow LH strategists to maintain high copying fidelity genetic replication while producing a lower number of offspring in stable, predictable, and controllable environments and (2) a bet-hedging adaptation in fast LH strategists, favoring the genetic diversification of a higher number of offspring in unstable, unpredictable, and uncontrollable environments. Adapted from the source document.