Evolution & Human Behavior
Volume 31, Issue 5 , Pages 320-325, September 2010

Humans show mate copying after observing real mate choices☆

  • Skyler S. Place

      Affiliations

    • Program in Cognitive Science and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.:+1 812 856 0715.
    • ,
  • Peter M. Todd

      Affiliations

    • Program in Cognitive Science and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47401, USA
    • ,
  • Lars Penke

      Affiliations

    • Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, EH8 9JZ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    • Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, EH8 9JZ Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Jens B. Asendorpf

      Affiliations

    • Department of Psychology, Humboldt University of Berlin, D-10099 Berlin, Germany

Received 19 June 2009; accepted 3 February 2010. published online 23 April 2010.

Abstract 

When searching for a mate, one must gather information to determine the mate value of potential partners. By focusing on individuals who have been previously chosen by others, one's selection of mates can be influenced by another's successful search—a phenomenon known as mate copying. We show mate copying in humans with a novel methodology that closely mimics behavioral studies with non-human animals. After observing instances of real mating interest in video recordings of speed-dates, both male and female participants show mate copying effects of heightened short-term and long-term relationship interest towards individuals in dates they perceived as successful. Furthermore, the relative attractiveness of observers and observed plays a mediating role in whom an individual will choose to copy.

Keywords: Mate choice, Mate copying, Social information, Decision-making, Speed-dating

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☆ This research was supported by grant As 59/15 of the German Research Foundation (DFG), awarded to Jens Asendorpf. Lars Penke is supported by the UK Medical Research Council (Grant No. 82800) and is part of The University of Edinburgh Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology. Funding from the BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC and MRC is gratefully acknowledged. We would like to thank Marie-Luise Haupt, Karsten Krauskopf, Harald Schneider, and Sebastian Teubner for their help with the Berlin Speed Dating Study.

PII: S1090-5138(10)00023-1

doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2010.02.001

Evolution & Human Behavior
Volume 31, Issue 5 , Pages 320-325, September 2010

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