ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses changes in mate selection historically and explains why the split between work and home was significant in terms of mate selection. It discusses formal versus informal dating patterns and outlines the characteristics of social exchange theory in terms of mate selection. The chapter describes key factors of single life and cohabitation and compares homosexual relationships with heterosexual patterns of mate selection. It discusses the key variables or traits that most people assess when selecting a mate. The chapter describes key factors of single life and cohabitation. Suppose you run an agency whose task it is to select mates for customers. You get paid when a couple you arrange gets married, plus an annual fee for each year the marriage lasts.
