Final answer:
Family influence and arranged marriages have historically been integral to selecting spouses in the U.S. and remain so in some cultures today, as marriage decisions are often influenced by factors like religion, culture, economy, and social expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically in the United States, and in some developing nations today, family influence and arranged marriages have played an important part in the selection of a spouse. In the U.S., and more broadly in Western culture, the idea of marriage is generally based on individual feelings of love and the decision to marry is influenced by personal preference. However, in many other parts of the world and in historical contexts, the family has played a significant role through arrangements that include interviews and negotiations between families, or systems like mail-order brides. Factors such as religion, cultural expectations, economic conditions, and social class also affect the decision to marry. For example, marriage patterns can be related to a culture's food-getting strategy; in agricultural societies, a man may marry multiple women to ensure ample labor for farming tasks.