Bimbo biology

What men and women look for in a mate.

By Christine Cauchon, published on December 31, 1969 - last reviewed on August 30, 2004

WHAT'S AN IDEAL MATE? MEN SEEK THE YOUNG AND HEALTHY. WOMEN VOTE FOR FINANCIAL SECURITY AND PARTNERS WILLING TO SHARE WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

No surprise there, reports psychology professor Robert Cramer, Ph.D., and associates at Cal State. San Bernardino. They consider the results of their 150-person survey evidence of biological imperatives.

Asked to rate the importance of assorted traits in an ideal partner, the men gave 42 percent of their points to attractiveness, youth, health, and sexual responsiveness.

The women gave only 27 percent of their points to the same traits. But they lavished a whopping 52 percent on intelligence, motivation, honesty,and earning capacity. Men assigned only 39 percent of their points to these traits.

The results support men's and women's complaints about the opposite sex. Accusations that men want young, beautiful women are on target, as are male complaints that women are interested only in money.

Both interests are the products of evolutionary and biological drives to reproduce, says Cramer. "Behavioral scientists have rediscovered that biological models provide powerful explanations for a variety of social phenomena."

Still, don't discount cultural pressures. They may yet push males to select mates who can bring their own economic resources to the relationship.