1. A Brief History of Marriage & Mate Selection
What is the purpose of marriage?
Why do people marry?
Is marriage still relevant in today’s society?

2. Marriage
Marriage  biological urge to reproduce but evolved to be the fundamental social and economic unit in human society
Historically romantic love considered a hindrance to successful marriage. Why?
Impulsive
Does not consider social status & economic stability

3. Marriage in Hunter-Gatherer Societies:
We evolved to be H-G
Mate selection  relatively easy process
Men  attracted to women who could bear healthy children & nurture them
Women  preferred men who could be protectors & providers
Natural selection  Men & Women who made successful choices would pass on their mate selection preferences to their children
Two processes at work here:
Individual preferences for mate
Competition with others for mate
Romance  No! It’s all about having babies!

4. Marriage in Agricultural Societies
In Agricultural societies, land ownership  social status & wealth
Marriage = a way to amass wealth, cement loyalties  usually arranged by parents
During this time Religion becomes very important and assumes role of establishing social norms & legitimizing marriages – marriage becomes a sacred ritual

5. Cultural Heritage of Marriage

6. Ancient Hebrew Marriages were arranged
The bride’s family would pay a Bride Price or Dowry in the form of money, land or chattel
Bride gained dower rights → property rights to her husbands estate
A Marriage Contract established mutual obligations
Divorce was permitted on certain grounds

7. Roman Patriarchal and Patrilocal (wife would live with husbands family
Early Roman society → strictly monogamous
Later Roman society → Roman society became more egalitarian → marriage for social status, political / economic advantage → divorce was common

8. Middle Ages: At first marriage was informal
12th century → church begins to regulate marriage
Feudal system regulated every aspect of medieval society
Marriage becomes a witnessed public event during this period → Banns of Marriage → public announcement of marriage to determine whether the marriage was legitimate

9. Industrial Societies More people move to densely populated cities
More places to court a “sweetie-pie” out of site of disapproving friends and families
Social status and wealth no longer determined by land  children = financial liabilities  encouraged to choose own mates with limited parental approval  Free-Choice Mate Selection

10. Various Perspectives On Mate Selection:

11. Social Exchange: Attraction  reality over fantasy
People assess the resources they have to offer & look for a mate who will be attracted by these resources
Women tend to ‘marry up’  twice as likely to marry a man with better financial resources
Men  Physical qualities that indicate child bearing qualities
Social Homogamy  people attracted to individuals from a similar background

12. Symbolic Interactionism:
Attraction based on an individuals unconscious image of our “ideal mate” formed from his/her perception of certain characteristics
“Love at first sight”
Explains how what we find attractive is determined by culture

13. Functionalism:  
Mate selection based on qualities that will ensure survival  Natural Selection
Men and women must fulfill specific roles