In today’s society, relationships between men and women are often perceived to prioritize appearance and wealth. Many women consider a potential partner’s status as “tall, rich, and handsome” as a key criterion for selection. However, a recent study has revealed a shift in people’s preferences when it comes to choosing a spouse, focusing more on intelligence and kindness rather than physical attractiveness, health, or social status. This discovery seems to challenge conventional beliefs.
Previous research has emphasized that intelligence, kindness, health, physical attractiveness, and socioeconomic status are all crucial qualities in mate selection. These traits not only ensure the biological quality of future generations but also provide benefits in resource acquisition and social standing.
Yet, little attention has been paid to how cultural differences influence the prioritization of these traits and how individual differences affect these preferences. To delve deeper into this matter, a research team led by psychologist Joao Francisco Goes Braga Takayanagi from the University of Sao Paulo conducted a study.
Takayanagi explained to PsyPost, “Selecting a romantic partner is a very common yet fascinating process.” His interest in studying gender relationships stems from the desire to understand universal phenomena that hold mystique and significance for all individuals.
In this study, 778 Brazilian volunteers aged 18 to 64 with diverse sexual orientations were asked to rate the importance of different mate selection traits, namely intelligence, kindness, health, physical attractiveness, and socioeconomic status.
Participants were tasked with assigning ratings to these traits in three different budget scenarios – low, medium, and high. In the high budget scenario, participants could allocate higher scores, while in the low budget scenario, they could assign lower scores, forcing them to prioritize these five traits.
The results revealed that intelligence and kindness were deemed the most important traits by participants, irrespective of their gender or sexual orientation. However, overall, men tended to give higher priority to physical attractiveness compared to women. Those seeking long-term relationships placed more emphasis on a partner’s intelligence and kindness than those seeking short-term relationships.
Takayanagi noted that as the budget increased, traits such as intelligence and kindness, which initially received high scores in the low budget scenario, even garnered a higher proportion of ratings in the high budget scenario compared to other qualities.
Furthermore, researchers observed that socioeconomic status held a low priority for all individuals, particularly men. This differs from previous studies on budget allocation and may be attributed to the inclusion of additional “ideal partner” traits in this new research, such as health and intelligence.
Takayanagi stressed, “If you want to attract more potential partners, focusing on your intellectual and personality traits seems to be the best bet.”
He also acknowledged limitations in the study, mentioning that participants’ self-reported preferences might not necessarily align with their actual pursuits.
Despite its limitations, this study underscores an essential concept – individuals seeking long-term partners value intelligence and kindness over physical appearance.