ACTIVE PHENOTYPIC ASSORTMENT IN MATE SELECTION - SELF-DESCRIPTIONS AND SOUGHT-FOR ATTRIBUTES OF MATES IN DATING ADVERTISEMENTS

Assortative mating results both from social homogamy (coming for simil ar environments) and active phenotypic assortment (seeking a mate with desired attributes). Dating advertisements provide a means of assessi ng the role of active phenotypic assortment in the absence of social h omogamy. The relative frequency of mention of different attributes (gi ven limited advertising space) is informative regarding the salience o f these attributes in active phenotypic assortment. Sex differences in self descriptions and in attributes desired in others in dating adver tisements provide a means of evaluating sociobiological issues. Data w ere analyzed from 191 ads placed by females and 253 ads placed by male s seeking to meet members of the opposite sex. The most frequently men tioned attributes are age, race, occupation, moral characteristics, an d physical attractiveness. While close to 80 per cent of the advertise rs provided information concerning their own race/ethnicity, only a mi nority of those providing such information limited their quest for a p artner to members of their own race/ethnicity. There is substantial as sortative mating for religion, family background, status, and educatio nal attainment, yet these attributes are rarely (religion and educatio n) or never (family background) mentioned in advertisements, suggestin g that assortative mating on these dimensions may be solely a conseque nce of social homogamy.