Final answer:
Men and women prioritize looks and resources differently when selecting mates for short-term vs. long-term relationships. Physical attractiveness is often more important for short-term relations, while for long-term commitments, both sexes look for qualities that indicate a good parenting or partnership potential. Cultural and social factors, along with universally perceived attractive traits, also significantly influence mating choices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The prioritization of looks and resources in choosing mates for short-term and long-term relationships varies between men and women. Studies such as Pedersen et al. (2002) indicate that for short-term relationships, men tend to prioritize physical attractiveness while women often seek partners with resources that signify status and the potential for provision. For long-term relationships, both sexes are more discerning, seeking characteristics indicative of a partner who would make a good parent or spouse, such as warmth, affection, social skills, achievement, and leadership qualities. An interesting finding is that physiological states such as 'resource depletion' in males, which refers to a reduced supply of sperm after previous matings, can significantly influence mating behavior, particularly in how they maximize the use of limited reproductive resources in their selection of a female based on fecundity, as shown in a study mentioned in your references (2006).
Cultural and societal expectations also play a significant role in how singles perceive pressure regarding marriage and relationships. Single women face greater scrutiny and are often portrayed negatively if they remain unmarried, leading to a sense of insecurity unless they achieve success in their education and careers. In contrast, single men are typically depicted as choosing to stay bachelors or as not yet having found the ideal partner. These societal narratives contribute to the pressure and personal preferences in mate selection (Roberts 2007).
Universally attractive traits have also been recognized in research, where women with features such as large eyes, high cheekbones, and lower waist-to-hip ratios and men with attributes like height, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist are generally deemed more attractive (Buss, 1989). Such traits likely play into both short-term and long-term mating strategies. Moreover, the matching hypothesis suggests that individuals tend to choose partners who they perceive as their equals in physical attractiveness and social desirability, further influencing mate selection (Taylor et al., 2011).