Final answer:
Qualities viewed as necessities in potential mates by both men and women include physical attractiveness, such as facial and body symmetry, and social traits, like warmth and leadership qualities, coupled with the importance of similarity and matching in physical and social desirability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both men and women view certain qualities as necessities in a potential mate. These can be broadly categorized into physical and social traits. Physical attractiveness factors in universally appealing features such as high levels of facial and body symmetry, while social traits encompass warmth, affection, and social skills for potential female mates, and achievement, leadership qualities, and job skills for potential male mates. Besides these traits, similarity and the matching hypothesis also play a significant role, aligning with the notion that individuals tend to choose partners they view as equals in physical attractiveness and social desirability.
Furthermore, these attractive qualities do not only revolve around physical and social traits but also include the concept of essentialism, associated with traditional notions of gender roles, and the challenges faced by individuals when their natural traits conflict with societal expectations, as noted in leadership and political contexts.
The discussion also extends to the biological perspective where, across various species including humans, females tend to be more selective than males in choosing mates, often looking for signs of good genes or viable resources which can be demonstrated through physical traits and behaviors.