SEXUAL SELECTION AND PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS - IMPLICATIONS FOR MATING DYNAMICS

Sexual selection processes have received much attention in recent year s, attention reflected in interest in human mate preferences. Among th ese mate preferences are preferences for physical attractiveness. Pref erences in and of themselves, however, do not fully explain the nature of the relationships that individuals attain. A tacit negotiation pro cess underlies relationship formation and maintenance. The notion that preferences for physical attractiveness evolved under parasite-driven ''good genes'' sexual selection leads to predictions about the nature of trade-offs that individuals make between mates' physical attractiv eness and investment potential. These predictions and relevant data ar e explored, with a primary emphasis on women's preferences for men's q ualities. In addition, further implications of trade-offs are examined , most notably (a) the impact of environmental variations on the natur e of mating and (b) some effects of trade-offs on infidelity and male attempts to control women.