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Based on the Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating by David M. Buss and David P. Schmitt, mating strategies have evolved over time between both men and women. One major factor is humans have evolved distinct psychological means that address adaptive problems encountered by ancestors. Natural and sexual selection are responsible for the evolution. Natural selection is the biological that Darwin and Wallace discovered; these evolutionary factors helped humans survive. The theory suggests that people are predisposed to be afraid of things to help them survive, this is referred to as fear conditioning. Sexual selection is an evolution of preference by one sex for characteristics in individuals of the attracted sex. One evolutionary psychological mean prompts both short-term and long-term mate seeking strategies through physical attraction and social status. This theory shows similarities and differences in the qualities and characteristics that are desired by different types of men and women. A study looked at homosexual and heterosexual men and women to see if they both have a desire in dating someone that is attractive and has high social status power. Both homosexual and heterosexual women rated social status as the more important value over physical attractiveness. Homosexual and heterosexual men rated physical attractiveness higher than the women. They measured this by giving men and women pictures of the sex they are attracted to and labeling them with a higher or lower social status. This proves that no matter the sexual orientation, attraction and social status is important when looking for a partner. However, since both men and women have different mating strategies, their views of attractive characteristics are different.

As predicted by the Sexual Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating proposed by Buss and Schmitt, men significantly value characteristics such as: good looking, physically attractive, promiscuous, sex appeal, and sexually experienced in both short-term and long-term mates. This was tested by having participants rate on a scale of one to seven how important each characteristic is in both short-term and long-term mates. In another study by Buss, Shackelford, Kirkpatrick and Larsen they studied different regions within the United States to see if they appear different in the values they place on a marriage partner. Samples from Texas appeared different from samples in other regions placing a greater value on chastity, good financial prospects, social status, and a similar religious background. It was found that a majority off all men found younger women more attractive. This is because youthful women have higher fertility rates, which gives men a greater likelihood of having reproductive success with younger women than with older woman. Since men desire a high reproductive success rate, having a long-term mate will confine that success rate. Therefore, they pursue more short-term relationships with women because having a mate for a prolonged period of time will hinder their success rate. It is known that men pursue short-term mating more often and frequently then women, who are more interested in long-term mates.

Sexual Strategies Theory predicts that women are more likely then men to look for a long-term mate and be more selective when it comes to finding a mate. This is because they are also interested in his recourses. Women seeking a long-term mate will select men on the parental investment they are willing and capable of providing. Women that are looking for long-term relations with a man are inclined to find a man’s value of resources desirable; this can make him look more attractive as a mate. This was shown in a study where women interacted with three different men “owned” three different cars representing upper, middle, and lower classes and would ask a woman on the sidewalk for her phone number. The results trended in the direction of the research hypothesis that high social status would get the most numbers while low social status got the least. This trend shows that there is a tendency for women to be more interested in and/or attracted to men with greater resources. However, women are not only interested in a man’s resources but also his physical appearance.

Sexual Strategies Theory predicted that physical attractiveness is presented as a priority in women among short-term and long-term mating contexts. However, it is more of a priority in short-term mates with their benefits being attractive offspring. This theory predicts that because where women do not get to secure the man’s resources, as is the typical circumstance in long-term relationships, they may get to secure better genes, which are passed to her offspring, by mating with physically attractive men in short-term circumstances.

Beautification or career achievement can be excessive when one’s trying to increase their desirability as a long-term mate. When it comes to selecting a single mate, those with more to offer have more choices and bargaining power than do those with less to offer. Married men in the Li, Bailey, Kenrick and Linsenmeier study openly said that in their single years, when they could be with very attractive women, usually these women did not have a college degree or lacked in something else. Later, when they were looking for a long-term relationship, the men reduced their high requirements on attractiveness and ended up marrying well-rounded mates. When it comes to choosing a single mate there are trade-off factors. This is because it is important for both men and women in short-term and long-term relations to have a physically attractive mate, and it is more important to women to have a mate with resources.

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