The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating

Constants do not count in mating decisions.

Over thousands of generations, a preference for men who showed signs of being willing and able to commit to them evolved in women, just as preferences for mates with adequate nests evolved in weaverbirds. This preference solved key reproductive problems, just as food preferences solved key survival problems.

Darwin’s theory of sexual selection began to explain mating behavior by identifying two key processes by which evolutionary change can occur: preferences for a mate and competition for a mate.

The evolution of characteristics because of their mating benefits, rather than survival benefits, is known as sexual selection.