Final answer:
Evolutionary psychologists believe that gender differences in preferences for mates persist due to natural selection and adaptive strategies for reproductive success.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolutionary psychologists believe that gender differences in preferences for mates persist because of evolutionary processes and natural selection. One hypothesis is the good genes hypothesis, which suggests that males with impressive traits, such as physical attractiveness or intelligence, signal their genetic superiority and are chosen by females to pass on these advantageous genes to their offspring. Another hypothesis is the Fisherian runaway model, which proposes that certain traits are selected based on sexual preference, leading to the evolution of these traits in males. Overall, these theories suggest that gender differences in mate preferences are the result of adaptive strategies for reproductive success.