Mate Preferences Across Life and Across the World

A body of research has demonstrated that people adopt a more interpersonally positive orientation as they age. The current study extends this line of research by examining how mate preferences shift as a function of age. Our worldwide sample rated their attraction to various photographs and completed self-report measures of attraction. Based on a revealed preference measure, the authors found that older individuals preferred people who displayed communal characteristics, and this pattern was fairly universal. On the other hand, self-reported preferences were less consistent. The authors' findings suggest that, in addition to becoming more agreeable with age, people are drawn to others with similarly agreeable qualities. This universal pattern indicates that mate preferences across the life span shift largely toward increased preference for communal characteristics.