Contrasting Computational Models of Mate Preference Integration Across 45 Countries
Authors: Conroy-Beam Daniel , Buss David M. , Asao Kelly , Sorokowska Agnieszka , Sorokowski Piotr , Aavik Toivo , Akello Grace , Alhabahba Mohammad Madallh , Alm Charlotte , Amjad Naumana , Anjum Afifa , Atama Chiemezie S. , Duyar Derya Atamtürk , Ayebare Richard , Batres Carlota , Bendixen Mons , Bensafia Aicha , Bizumic Boris , Boussena Mahmoud , Butovskaya Marina , Can Seda , Cantarero Katarzyna , Carrier Antonin , Cetinkaya Hakan , Croy Ilona , Cueto Rosa María , Czub Marcin , Dronova Daria , Dural Seda , Duyar Izzet , Ertugrul Berna , Espinosa Agustín , Estevan Ignacio , Esteves Carla Sofia , Fang Luxi , Frackowiak Tomasz , Garduño Jorge Contreras , González Karina Ugalde , Guemaz Farida , Gyuris Petra , Halamová Mária , Herak Iskra , Horvat Marina , Hromatko Ivana , Hui Chin-Ming , Jaafar Jas Laile , Jiang Feng , Kafetsios Konstantinos , Kavčič Tina , Kennair Leif Edward Ottesen , Kervyn Nicolas , Thi Khanh Ha Truong , Khilji Imran Ahmed , Köbis Nils C. , Lan Hoang Moc , Láng András , Lennard Georgina R. , León Ernesto , Lindholm Torun , Thi Linh Trinh , Lopez Giulia , Van Luot Nguyen , Mailhos Alvaro , Manesi Zoi , Martinez Rocio , McKerchar Sarah L. , Meskó Norbert , Misra Girishwar , Monaghan Conal , Mora Emanuel C. , Moya-Garófano Alba , Musil Bojan , Natividade Jean Carlos , Niemczyk Agnieszka , Nizharadze George , Oberzaucher Elisabeth , Oleszkiewicz Anna , Omar-Fauzee Mohd Sofian , Onyishi Ike E. , Özener Baris , Pagani Ariela Francesca , Pakalniskiene Vilmante , Parise Miriam , Pazhoohi Farid , Pisanski Annette , Pisanski Katarzyna , Ponciano Edna , Popa Camelia , Prokop Pavol , Rizwan Muhammad , Sainz Mario , Salkičević Svjetlana , Sargautyte Ruta , Sarmány-Schuller Ivan , Schmehl Susanne , Sharad Shivantika , Siddiqui Razi Sultan , Simonetti Franco , Stoyanova Stanislava Yordanova , Tadinac Meri , Varella Marco Antonio Correa , Vauclair Christin-Melanie , Vega Luis Diego , Widarini Dwi Ajeng , Yoo Gyesook , Zaťková Marta , Zupančič Maja 
Published: November 2019

Humans express a wide array of ideal mate preferences. Around the world, people desire romantic partners who are intelligent, healthy, kind, physically attractive, wealthy, and more. In order for these ideal preferences to guide the choice of actual romantic partners, human mating psychology must possess a means to integrate information across these many preference dimensions into summaries of the overall mate value of their potential mates. Here we explore the computational design of this mate preference integration process using a large sample of n = 14,487 people from 45 countries around the world. We combine this large cross-cultural sample with agent-based models to compare eight hypothesized models of human mating markets. Across cultures, people higher in mate value appear to experience greater power of choice on the mating market in that they set higher ideal standards, better fulfill their preferences in choice, and pair with higher mate value partners. Furthermore, we find that this cross-culturally universal pattern of mate choice is most consistent with a Euclidean model of mate preference integration.