Contextual and procedural determinants of partner selection: Of asymmetricdominance and prominence

The early stage of partner selection is conceptualized as a decision-making process amenable to at least two types of influence: contextual and proced ural. An example of contextual influence is the asymmetric dominance effect . According to this effect, introduction in a two-person field of eligibles of a third eligible, who is dominated (i.e., is inferior) on an attribute by the first eligible but nor by the second one, will tip the scale reward selecting the first eligible. An example of procedural influence is the pro minence effect. According to this effect, participants will be more likely to select in choice rather than in matching the eligible who is superior on an attribute important to the participants. On the other hand, participant s will be more likely to select in matching rather than in choice the eligi ble who is superior on an attribute unimportant to the participants. Two ex periments demonstrated these contextual and procedural influences.