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Mate Value

Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

Synonyms

Mate worth; Partner reproductive value; Potential mate or partner fitness value

Definition

The “mate value” of a potential mating partner is the inclusive fitness gain that a focal individual makes from mating or partnering with that individual; also, in humans, it is the value of prospective partners on the “mating market.”

Introduction

Mate value is the total potential fitness value to be gained from a prospective mate or partner. It includes all aspects of fitness, incorporating a mate’s phenotypic condition, genetic quality, and resource holding. These factors must be evaluated as to how they affect the fitness of the chooser; for example, given variation in the chooser’s resource holding or genetic compatibility. It is expected that individuals will be selected to maximize the mate value of their partners, leading to the evolution of the criteria used in mate choice. As it is unlikely that mate value can be directly assessed, it must be inferred from morphological and...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University College London, London, UK

    James Malcolm Howie & Andrew Pomiankowski

Authors
  1. James Malcolm Howie
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  2. Andrew Pomiankowski
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew Pomiankowski .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, USA

    Brian B Boutwell

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Howie, J.M., Pomiankowski, A. (2018). Mate Value. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1802-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1802-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Mate Value
    Published:
    16 February 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1802-2

  2. Original

    Mate Value
    Published:
    13 January 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1802-1

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