Mate preferences and infectious disease: theoretical considerations and evidence in humans.
نویسندگان
چکیده
Mate preferences may operate in part to mitigate the threats posed by infectious disease. In this paper, we outline various ways in which preferring healthy mates can offer direct benefits in terms of pathogen avoidance and indirect benefits in terms of heritable immunity to offspring, as well as the costs that may constrain mate preferences for health. We then pay special attention to empirical work on mate preferences in humans given the depth and breadth of research on human mating. We review this literature and comment on the degree to which human mate preferences may reflect preferences for health.
منابع مشابه
مقایسه و رتبهبندی ترجیحات همسرگزینی در بین گروهی از دانشجویان دختر و پسر و دانشجویان کرد، عرب و بختیاری دانشگاه شهید چمران اهواز
The purpose of this study comparison of and ranking mate-selection preferences among female and male students, and three ethnic groups (Kord, Bakhtiyari, and Arabian language). 600 students (in 6 colleges) were selected using randomized stratified sampling, and completed the Mate-Selection Preferences Inventory. To assess of the validity of this measure principle components analysis (varimax ro...
متن کاملAre high-quality mates always attractive?: State-dependent mate preferences in birds and humans.
Sexual selection theory posits that females should choose mates in a way that maximizes their reproductive success. But what exactly is the optimal choice? Most empirical research is based on the assumption that females seek a male of the highest possible quality (in terms of the genes or resources he can provide), and hence show directional preferences for indicators of male quality. This impl...
متن کاملLessons From Zika Policies to Improve Gender Equity
Gender equity is easily supported in theory but harder to pursue in practice. In this article, the case of Zika travel policies is used to illustrate some glaring gaps related to gender, for both men and women, at both international and national levels. Zika travel policies have not considered new evidence on biological or social determinants of health, putting babies at risk of exposure. The a...
متن کاملDoes the contraceptive pill alter mate choice in humans?
Female and male mate choice preferences in humans both vary according to the menstrual cycle. Women prefer more masculine, symmetrical and genetically unrelated men during ovulation compared with other phases of their cycle, and recent evidence suggests that men prefer ovulating women to others. Such monthly shifts in mate preference have been suggested to bring evolutionary benefits in terms o...
متن کاملGenetic dissimilarity, genetic diversity, and mate preferences in humans
It is clear that genes at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are involved in mate preferences in a range of species, including humans. However, many questions remain regarding the MHC's exact influence on mate preference in humans. Some research suggests that genetic dissimilarity and individual genetic diversity (heterozygosity) at the MHC influence mate preferences, but the evidence i...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید
ثبت ناماگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید
ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
دوره 366 1583 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2011