question for experts: assortative mating, adaptiveness

[manythings]

Anyone who understands evolutionary studies, evo psych, or bio anthro: Can anyone think of an adaptive advantage that would associate with assortative mating in humans, especially where this concerns selection of mates that share common interests, styles, or personality features?

[alextemplet]

One reason could be that people who enjoy each other's company or are more compatible would be more likely to stay together for longer, having more children and raising those children to adulthood.

[vk4vfx]

One reason could be that people who enjoy each other's company or are more compatible would be more likely to stay together for longer, having more children and raising those children to adulthood.

Or ask yourself this question, are humans actually meant to reproduce then move on and reproduce with another mate? why do some organisms mate, and then part company? why do others stay together for life? Genetic diversity? Security? serial monogamy should that be the way? I think it was Joan Rivers the comedian who I heard say once "Men think monogamy is a piece of timber"

[alextemplet]

I think humans are genetically hard-wired to want to mate for life. I don't think there's a single human culture that has not independently developed this practice in one form or another. That indicates to me that we have a strong instinctual need to stay with a mate for a long period of time.

[vk4vfx]

I think humans are genetically hard-wired to want to mate for life. I don't think there's a single human culture that has not independently developed this practice in one form or another. That indicates to me that we have a strong instinctual need to stay with a mate for a long period of time.

"Genetically hard wired" yes we are certainly that but that's up to the individual, multiple wives in certain cultures still does and will remain just that its all about spreading the "love" maintaining genetic diversity, wives cheat on husbands and husbands cheat on wives, i think couples stay together pretty much because it is morally the right thing to do, depends on how happy you are in your relationship, if you are not then simply move on to plow more productive fields!

[robsabba]

One reason could be that people who enjoy each other's company or are more compatible would be more likely to stay together for longer, having more children and raising those children to adulthood.

Or ask yourself this question, are humans actually meant to reproduce then move on and reproduce with another mate? why do some organisms mate, and then part company? why do others stay together for life? Genetic diversity? Security? serial monogamy should that be the way? I think it was Joan Rivers the comedian who I heard say once "Men think monogamy is a piece of timber"

Human babies are born very immature, primarily because our heads are so big that a more mature baby would not be able to fit its head out during birth. This results in selective pressure for bonding between mother and father so that the father will stay and help support/protect the vulnerable offspring. This would be very difficult for a mother all alone.