The authors presented a report on how mating psychology and current cultural values evolved in Indian society in 1980s-2000s. Researchers were interested to see whether sex-specific mate choices, as predicted by parental investment theory, would remain consistent across time. Utilizing the methods of a ranking and a rating, they compared their recent Indian sample (n = 536) to a small Indian sample (n = 105) studied twenty-five years before.
Based on their analysis, the authors reported that despite India’s history of arranged weddings, people’s mate choices for mutual attraction and affection remained crucial and stable. Over time, sex differences in mate preferences for the qualities of reproductive cues (such as youth, physical appeal) and resources (such as excellent financial prospects, social position) stayed largely the same. For both sexes, a stronger preference for mates who are “a good cook and housewife”, “ambitious and industrious,” and “creative and artistic” emerged as significant changes in mate preferences among young Indians.
Summarizing, the authors noted that:
Evolutionary theory for sex-specific mate preferences provided valid explanation for the data in India.
Despite India’s cultural changes in 1980s-2000s, the mate preferences of people remained constant.