TY - JOUR
T1 - Mate preferences and infectious disease: Theoretical considerations and evidence in humans
AU - Tybur, J.M.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Mate preferences may operate in part to mitigate the threats posed by infectious disease. In this paper, we outline various ways in which preferring healthy mates can offer direct benefits in terms of pathogen avoidance and indirect benefits in terms of heritable immunity to offspring, as well as the costs that may constrain mate preferences for health. We then pay special attention to empirical work on mate preferences in humans given the depth and breadth of research on human mating. We review this literature and comment on the degree to which human mate preferences may reflect preferences for health. © 2011 The Royal Society.
AB - Mate preferences may operate in part to mitigate the threats posed by infectious disease. In this paper, we outline various ways in which preferring healthy mates can offer direct benefits in terms of pathogen avoidance and indirect benefits in terms of heritable immunity to offspring, as well as the costs that may constrain mate preferences for health. We then pay special attention to empirical work on mate preferences in humans given the depth and breadth of research on human mating. We review this literature and comment on the degree to which human mate preferences may reflect preferences for health. © 2011 The Royal Society.
U2 - 10.1098/rstb.2011.0136
DO - 10.1098/rstb.2011.0136
M3 - Article
VL - 366
SP - 3375
EP - 3388
JO - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. Biological Sciences
JF - Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. Biological Sciences
SN - 0962-8436
ER -