The mate switching hypothesis. Personality and Individual Differences - Buss, Goetz, Duntley, Conroy-Beam (2017) - Article

In this article the writers mainly focused on research on women. According to them, should there also be research into the role of men in partner psychology?

The same predictions aimed at women would also apply to men. This includes predictions such as differences in measurement value, exposure to new potential partners with a higher value than the current partner, but also the revealed relationship tax. However, the writers also expect differences. More often than in women's affairs, men's affairs are motivated by the desire for sexual variation. Direct sexual access to fertile women has a key function in the psychology of many men. Men use this to a lesser extent as partner tactics.

What to say about the mate-switch hypothesis?

What circumstances can cause a mat switching?

These can be different circumstances. For example, unexpected costs caused by someone's partner (relationship tax), discrepancies arising from changes in the degree-value of both partners or due to the arrival of a new and interested potential partner. This potential partner must have sufficient incremental value to compensate for the costs of a fracture.

What does the mate-switching hypothesis suggest?

This hypothesis about mate-link suggests the circumstances (see previous question) created adjustment problems throughout human evolution. By this they mean circumstances that came up with falsified adjustments to anticitates and possibilities for partner switch. But also implementing exit strategies and managing challenges during the aftermath of the entire process.

Which studies of the link hypothesis are covered in this article?

The following investigations are covered in this article:
• cultivating "back-up partners";
• the assessment of partner infected costs that include relationship tax;
• the measurement of self-neglecting welfare shift ratios in a partner;
• the measurement of degree of value discrepancies and anticipation of sexual, emotional and economic disturbances.

What does the mate-link hypothesis say about the "good genes" hypothesis?

For the "good genes" hypothesis, the mate-switching hypothesis offers so much a complementary as a competing explanation. Moreover, he explains in a similar way a large number of other mating phenomena that remain inexplicable for alternative accounts.

Why do people need adjustments?

The writers mention six arguments as to why people need adjustments. These are:
1. to monitor their current partnerships for received and expected benefits and to monitor accrued and expected costs;
2. to evaluate alternative potential partners while they are already paired;
3. to bypass the partner monitoring tactics of the partner;
4. as a tactic for assessing and looking up alternative, desired and interested partners;
5. to use exit strategies for splitting up a current partner in a way that minimizes costs;
6. to switch to a new partner when the cost / benefit accounts make the circumstances favorable for a switch.

Why do people need adjustments?

The writers mention six arguments as to why people need adjustments. These are:
1. to monitor their current partnerships for received and expected benefits and to monitor accrued and expected costs;
2. to evaluate alternative potential partners while they are already paired;
3. to bypass the partner monitoring tactics of the partner;
4. as a tactic for assessing and looking up alternative, desired and interested partners;
5. to use exit strategies for splitting up a current partner in a way that minimizes costs;
6. to switch to a new partner when the cost / benefit accounts make the circumstances favorable for a switch.

What conclusions do the writers draw at the end of this article?

The authors draw from this article that the degree-switching hypothesis explains a large number of existing specifications and generates new predictions that still have to be tested. For example, it provides a framework for predictions about the specific circumstances that should trigger a partner-psychology. Consider deviating value differences. But also interest in potential alternatives and an increased relationship burden.

Is more research needed and what should it focus on?

Yes, more research is needed. Especially to investigate the hypothetical design characteristics of the degree-switch adjustment. Including the inputs and outputs. In addition, it should focus on internal regulatory variables. Consider relationship satisfaction and prosperity-trade-off relationships.

In this article the writers mainly focused on research on women. According to them, should there also be research into the role of men in partner psychology?

The same predictions aimed at women would also apply to men. This includes predictions such as differences in measurement value, exposure to new potential partners with a higher value than the current partner, but also the revealed relationship tax. However, the writers also expect differences. More often than in women's affairs, men's affairs are motivated by the desire for sexual variation. Direct sexual access to fertile women has a key function in the psychology of many men. Men use this to a lesser extent as partner tactics.