Gender Differences Of Preferences In Human Mate Selection: To Validate The "Structural Powerlessness Hypothesis"

In evolutionary psychology, the gender difference of preferences in human mate selection is the important research subject. Evolutionary psychologists proposed a series of theory to explain the gender difference. Among the theory, Structural Powerlessness Hypothesis has been controversial. Many psychologists tried to validate the Structural Powerlessness Hypothesis, but they have not been consistent conclusion. On the basis of former researches, this study will further study the explanatory power of the Structural Powerlessness Hypothesis.The author hypothesized that (1) that it is truth that gender differences of preferences in human mate selection; (2) that as the increasing of women possessing recourses, Women place more importance on resources of a potential partner; (3) that no matter how many resources men possess, they place more importance on physical attractiveness of a potential partner; (4) that sex differences in preferences should diminish as the power balance in society approaches equity between sexes.To validate those hypotheses, we designed a questionnaire and an experiment to validate them. In the questionnaire, the study used Hill's (1945) lists of mate characters and surveyed 214 college students. The experiment chose education factor and incoming factor as experimental materials, and surveyed 60 college students.The results are as follows:(1) It is truth that gender differences of preferences in human mate selection. Men place significantly more importance on the physical attractiveness of a potential partner (such as Good Looks and Mutual Attraction tone), whereas women place more emphasis on the ability of a mate to provide material support (such as Education, Financial Prospect, Social Status or Rating, Ambition and Industrious, Intelligence). (2) As the increasing of women possessing recourses, Women place more importance on Financial Prospect,Social Status or Rating and Intelligence of a potential partner. (3) About the theory of explain the sex differences, the conclusion of this study indicates that evolutionary theory is more force to explain gender differences of preferences in human mate selection. Nonetheless, social and cultural factors cannot be ruled out.