Final answer:
Men often overlook sexual interest cues and women seek out commitment cues from potential mates, reflecting a broader pattern of selective mating behavior and different communication styles as described by Deborah Tannen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Men tend to overlook cues from potential mates in terms of implying sexual interest; women tend to seek out cues from potential mates in terms of commitment levels. In many species, including humans, there is a dichotomy where males often engage in behaviors to display their suitability as mates, for instance through courtship displays or developing colorful plumage. These behaviors can be energetically costly and may reduce energy available for other activities such as caring for offspring. On the other hand, females, who typically invest more biologically in the production of offspring, are more selective and tend to look for signs of commitment as an indicator of potential parental investment from males.
Deborah Tannen's research suggests that this pattern of behavior extends to communication styles, with men aiming to assert status, and women focused on building connections. Thus, men and women can often seem to be speaking different languages due to these underlying motivations which are reflected in their conversational styles and preferences.