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Mutual Mate Choice with Multiple Criteria

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Advances in Dynamic Games

Part of the book series: Annals of the International Society of Dynamic Games ((AISDG,volume 11))

Abstract

This article presents a model of mutual mate search based on two trait measures. One measure describes the attractiveness of an individual and preferences are common according to this measure i.e., each female prefers highly attractive males and all females agree as to which males are attractive. Preferences are homotypic with respect to the second measure, referred to as character i.e., all individuals prefer mates of a similar character. It is assumed that attractiveness is easy to measure, but to observe the character of a prospective partner, it is necessary to court. Hence, on meeting a prospective partner an individual must decide whether to try and court the other. Courtship only occurs by mutual consent. During courtship, individuals observe the character of the prospective partner and then decide whether to mate or not. Mutual acceptance is required for mating to occur. This paper presents the model and outlines a procedure for finding a Nash equilibrium which satisfies a set of criteria based on the concept of subgame perfection. Two examples are presented and it is shown that multiple equilibria may exist.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    David M. Ramsey

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  1. David M. Ramsey
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Correspondence to David M. Ramsey .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , HEC Montréal, Department of Management Science, 3000 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, H3T2A7, Canada

    Michèle Breton

  2. Wrocław University of Technology, Institute of Mathematics and Computer Sc, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Wrocław, PL-50-370, Poland

    Krzysztof Szajowski

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Ramsey, D.M. (2011). Mutual Mate Choice with Multiple Criteria. In: Breton, M., Szajowski, K. (eds) Advances in Dynamic Games. Annals of the International Society of Dynamic Games, vol 11. Birkhäuser Boston. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-8176-8089-3_17

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