Well-Matched Mate Values:

Rolf Degen

@DegenRolf

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14. Okt.

Romantic partners who had a similar mate value were happier together—especially when both were high in mate value. Mate value refers to how desirable someone is as a romantic partner. Although assortative mating often leads to pairings where individuals have similar levels of mate value, discrepancies can still occur, where one partner is perceived to have higher or lower mate value than the other. By combining data from two different populations (college students from the USA and Israeli community members), this study deepens our understanding of the connections that mate value and mate value discrepancies have with romantic relationship functioning. As anticipated, self-perceived mate value showed consistent positive associations with satisfaction, investment, and commitment across both studies for men and women. Both studies showed that perceived mate value congruence, particularly at higher levels, was linked with better relationship evaluations, such as greater satisfaction and commitment. From an evolutionary psychological perspective, congruence between an individual’s self-perceived mate value and their perception of their partner’s mate value may signal an adaptive match—one in which the individual perceives the relationship as balanced and mutually beneficial. When both partners are perceived as high in mate value, individuals may feel validated in their choice, experience fewer concerns about relative desirability, and view the relationship as equitable and rewarding. The results also revealed notable patterns regarding mate value discrepancies, particularly when individuals perceived themselves as having higher mate value than their partner. This pattern was consistently associated with lower satisfaction, lower commitment, and higher perceptions of the quality of alternatives. Notably, these results indicate that mate value discrepancies may be more problematic for individuals who perceive their own mate value as higher than that of their partner. Individuals in such relationships may feel “under-benefited” or as though they are settling for a partner who does not match their own perceived worth.