SHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN

FOUNDATINO IN NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY – PSY0103

PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT – CHOOSING MATE

GROUP MEMBERS: (LEADER) NICHOLAS YAP WEI TYNG 0314058

TEO CHONG YIH 0314660

MELVIN LIM 0315772

LILY THEN 0313973

MAK MUN CHOON 0314928

LECTURER: MISS PENG CHIA YEE

DATE OF SUBMISSION: JANUARY 22, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENT

Acknowledgement---------------------------------------------------------------------1

Abstract----------------------------------------------------------------------------------2

Introduction-----------------------------------------------------------------------------3-4

Method

Design--------------------------------------------------------------------------5 Participants--------------------------------------------------------------------5 Apparatus/ Materials---------------------------------------------------------6 Procedure----------------------------------------------------------------------6

Result-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------7-17

Discussion-----------------------------------------------------------------------------18-20

References----------------------------------------------------------------------------21-22

Appendix------------------------------------------------------------------------------23-27

AKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to our lecturer, Miss Pang Chia Yee

for her input and assistance in giving us suggestion, encouragement and guide us in completing

our project and report in a proper and formal way. We would also like to thank all the

teammates, Nicholas Yap, Chong Yih, Melvin Lim, Mak and Lily who help each other to in

providing suggestions, questions for the questionnaire and giving the best efforts to work on this

research, data analysis and conducting a report. Last but not least, we would like to thank all the

participants involved in this study for their time, understandings and support on us in completing

this project.

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ABSTRACT

Selecting a mate was part of human being’s life. Selecting an ideal husband or wife was

their responsibility .Considering certain status and characteristic that can suits one’s life when

selecting a mate was important. So, this paper is to describe a study which attempt to find out

which factors that participants considered the most when selecting a mate. 100 participants were

picked randomly were given questionnaire with 9 different questions to answer. Participants

were required to finish on that time. According to researchers’ hypothesis, participants prefer

physical appearance more than other factors. However it was result that participants prefer kind

person more than a nice looking person. The results are discussed based on the characteristic of a

person and its perspective when selecting a mate.

Keywords: selecting a mate; considering status and characteristic of the mate; prefer psychical

appearance; perspective when selecting a mate.

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INTROUDCTION

This assignment is in a group of between 4 to 5 students. Students will be required to

conduct a social psychology research experiment and need to do a presentation. Group research

topics, hypothesis and research methods must be approved by the course instructor well in

advance. So our topic is talk about social psychology research experiment and we choose

selecting a mate as our topic.

Selecting a mate is a purpose in our lives. Every human will to choose a mate as their

future wife or husband. Mate selecting is an evolutionary process in which selection of a mate

depends on attractiveness of its traits. Humans are in a small minority in the important way for

over 95 percent of other mammals, family arrangements involving male care of offspring are

non-existent (Geary 2000). Across human societies, though, men and women bond together in

marriage (Broude 1994; United Nations 2000). Not all human mating occurs within such bonds;

within and across societies, polygamous arrangements are relatively common (Broude 1994). In

considering how and why people choose mates, therefore, two points are significant, there are

variations as well as universalities across cultures, and difference between selection of mates for

short-term relationships versus long-term relationships.

The discussion below begins with research and theories focused on immediate

psychological triggers of mate choice, and moves through progressively like relationship

exchange, cultural and historical factors, and evolutionary history. Like the single frames,

scenes, and overall plot of a movie, are complementary, and all are required to see the "big

picture" of mate selection.

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In conclusion, there are different between male and female in selecting a mate therefore

in this assignment research will show the different and the compare between male and female in

the choice of their selecting a mate.

4

METHOD

In this survey, researchers prepared questionnaires. Researchers went around Taylor’s

University Lakeside Campus and minorities were from other places, researchers asked students

from different ages and races to help in answering the questionnaire. Researchers decided to also

do a quantitative research as because the more data were collected, the more interesting and

accurate the results will be. There will be four sub-topics in this method, Design, Participants,

Material, and the Procedure.

(i) Design

In this survey, there are 3 types of variables: Independent variable, dependant variable and

extraneous variable. The independent variable for this survey is the relationship status. The

dependant variable is finding the characteristics of a person and its perspective when choosing

the correct partner. Lastly, for extraneous variable, it is the honesty of the participants.

Researchers made sure that they will watched over them while the participants are doing

questionnaire. Researchers also asked the participants to write their honest answers and explain

to them if they do not understand any of the questions.

(ii) Participants

Participants that were involved in this survey were mostly the teenagers, majorities were

Taylor’s University’s students and minorities were from other places. There were 100

participants participated in this survey.

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(iii) Material

The materials that researchers used in this survey are papers for the questionnaire, some pens and

pencils.

(iv)Procedure

Last but not least, the procedures while conducting this survey. First is the researchers chose a

topic that the group is happy and satisfied with. Then, researchers form a hypothesis for this

survey. Followed by deciding on what type of research is suitable, quantitative or qualitative.

Researchers decide to use quantitative research. Next, researchers created questions for the

questionnaires. After that, researchers did a survey around the University by giving out the

questionnaire. Data were then collected after reaching the amount of 100 participants.

Researchers are then analysis those data by using certain mathematical calculations. Researchers

translated the data into graphs. Researchers finished it by writing a report of the collected data

and discussion about data based on researchers’ opinion and researches.

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RESULT

Figure 1

A B C D E F G H0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Figure 1 shows that the top three factors that participants think is important when selecting a mate. The list below shows what the symbols’ represent.

A: Kindness

B: Intelligent

C: Physical Appearance

D: Highly Educated

E: Healthy

F: Wealthy

G: Religious Orientation

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Mode of figure 1: A (84)

H: Family Background

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there are 84 responses for factor A (Kindness). It was the highest amount of responses among all other factors. The second highest response was factor B (Intelligent) and the amount of response was 56. The factor that receives the lowest response was factor F (Wealthy) as in the amount of only 10 responses.

Figure 2

1 to 5 6 to 10 11 to 15 16 to 20 21 to 25 26 to 30 Non of Above

0

10

20

30

40

50

60 Acceptable Age difference

Figure 2 shows that what range of the age difference is acceptable for the participants when choosing a mate.

Through the figure above, researchers found out that most of the participants accept the age difference range of 1 to 5. There were 57 participants that chosen the 1 to 5 range of the acceptable age difference. There were 0 participants that were able to accept 11 to 15 range of the acceptable age difference. So it was the lowest amount of people in the figure above.

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Mode of figure 2: 1 to 5 (57)

Figure 3

Yes No0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Distance Relationship

Figure 3 shows that the amount of participants that can accept long distance relationship.

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there were 57% of participants were able to accept long distance relationship. However, there were 43% of participants who were not able to accept long distance relationship.

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Figure 4

Agree Disagree0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Different Races

Figure 4 shows that would participants consider dating someone from a different race than participants themselves.

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there were 56% of participants would consider dating someone from a different race when selecting a mate. However, there were also 44% of participants wouldn’t consider dating someone from a different race when selecting a mate.

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Figure 5

Yes No0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Bad Family Background

Figure 5 shows that could participants accept bad family history background such as drug addiction

Through the figure above, researchers found out that there were 27% of participants could accept bad family history background when selecting a mate. However, there were 74% of participants could not accept bad family history background when selecting a mate.

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Figure 6

Agree Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Online Dating

Figure 6 shows participants’ thought that will online dating works.

Figure 7

Yes No0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

If agree, will you do?

12

Figure 7 was related with figure 6, it shows that will the participants who agree online dating works use this method when selecting a mate.

Through figure 6, researchers found out that there were 21 participants think that online dating works when selecting a mate. However, there were 79 participants who disagrees that online dating works when selecting a mate.

According to figure 7, among the 21 participants think that online dating works when selecting a mate, there were only 9 participants will use this method and there were 12 participants will not use this method.

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Figure 8

Agree Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Speed Dating

Figure 8 shows participants’ thought that will speed dating works.

Figure 9

Yes No0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

If agree, will you do?

14

Figure 9 was related with figure 8, it shows that will the participants who agree speed dating works use this method when selecting a mate.

Through figure 8, researchers found out that there were 23 participants think that speed dating works when selecting a mate. However, there were 77 participants who disagrees that speed dating works when selecting a mate.

According to figure 9, among the 23 participants think that speed dating works when selecting a mate, there were only 10 participants will use this method and there were 13 participants will not use this method.

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Figure 10

Agree Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Blind Dating

Figure 10 shows participants’ thought that will blind dating works.

Figure 11

Yes No12

12.5

13

13.5

14

14.5

15

15.5

If agree, will you do?

16

Figure 10 was related with figure 11, it shows that will the participants who agree blind dating works use this method when selecting a mate.

Through figure 10, researchers found out that there were 28 participants think that blind dating works when selecting a mate. However, there were 72 participants who disagrees that blind dating works when selecting a mate.

According to figure 11, among the 28 participants think that blind dating works when selecting a mate, there were only 13 participants will use this method and there were 15 participants will not use this method.

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DISCUSSION

Based on the result, most people prefer their mate which is kind, intelligence and good

physical appearance, which is 28%, 18%, and 16%. Even though most of the people have the

similar opinion when comes to choosing mate, but there a slightly differ between male and

female. For women, a preference for a culturally successful marriage partner is not enough, in

and of itself, to constitute the most successful reproductive strategy for women. Culturally

successful men are often arrogant, self-serving, and better able to pursue their preferred

reproductive interest than are other men. These preferences often involve pursuing multiple

mating partners rather than investing in one women and her child. Characteristics are important

which can provide information on the ability and willingness of the man to be loyal towards the

wife and children. With the exception of age and physical attractiveness women are more

selective compare to men in their choice of mate. Buss (1989) found that women rated

prospective husband who was kind, understanding and intelligent more than a prospective

husband who was none of these but only had the potential to become culturally successful.

Majority of women prefer men with whom they can develop an intimate and emotionally

satisfying relationship. However this type of relationship is more common in middle-class and

upper-middle-middle class, this explains why women are more concern about personal behavior

compares to others traits. Besides, physical attractiveness and good body health is a part of

concert when come the choosing mate. Women prefer for an attractive mate makes biological

sense (Fink & Pention Voak, 2002; Gangestad, 1993; Gangsestad & Buss, 1993). Women are

more likely to choose an attractive mate because handsome husbands more likely to sire children

who are attractive and thus sought out as mating and marriage partners in adulthood, these men

and their children also seen to be physically healthier than other men and their children

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Gengestad, Thornhill, & Yeo, 1994; Grammer & thornhill, 1994; Singh 1995a; Thornhill &

Gangestad, 1993, 1994). Women find attractive in men are also indicate man’s physical and

genetic health. For men who want a long-term marriage partner majority of them are prefer

intelligent marriage partners and partners with who a compatible and cooperative relationship

can be developed (Buss, 1989; Li et al, 2002). According to the result of the survey, men rated

the intelligence, kindness, healthy and physical appearance of a prospective mate is as important

attributes, and for many men these traits were more important than others traits. Other than

personal behavioral, men also concern physical attributes and fertility. Women and men prefer

sexually attractive partners, but this preference is consistently found to be more important a

necessity and not a luxury for men than for women (Buss, 1989; Feingold, 1990; Hatfield &

Sprecher, 1995; Li et al., 2002; Oda 2001). From evolutionary perspective, men’s ratings of

women’s attractiveness are related to the women’s fertility.

In the other hand, traits such as education level, wealth, religious orientation, and family

background are fewer amounts of people choose as consideration when comes to mate choosing

compare to the personal behavior or other traits. This is because nowadays people are more open

minded, thus they became easier to accept other religious, and different family background. The

economic independence of those people also makes them took wealthy not as serious

consideration, but they focus more on mental and emotional satisfying relationship.

The result shows that range of age difference that most people accept is about 1-5.

According to a classic study of human mating from 1989, David Buss surveyed 37 cultures

across 6 continents and found that in every culture in question, men preferred to marry younger

women (2.66 years younger on average ) and women preferred to marry older men (3.42 years

older on average). The study shows that the ‘ideal age gap’ in mate choosing is in between 1 to 5

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and people nowadays also applied the ‘ideal age gap’ when choosing their mate. In fact, this

result also keeping with Parental Investment Theory. For men, they are attracted to women who

advertise signs of fertility – that is, youth. In contrast, women are drawn to older men since they

commonly have greater resources.

According to the result, in term of dating method such as online dating, speed dating, and

blind date there are many people think that it would not work and they also not willing to try.

This result is affect by some factors such as culture, and individual perception. Firstly due to our

research target is mostly local, there is a probability that those dating method are not common in

the country, so people are not familiar with thus they think that it could not work. Besides, in

term of individual perception they are probably though that it is a shame and also they will feel

awkward when dating with strangers which included Social Judgment theory. Moreover, people

are aware of the online criminals who cause them to limit themselves and scare of trying dating

online.

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REFERENCES

1. Feingold, A. (1992). Gender differences in mate selection preferences: A test of the

parental investment model. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 125-139.

2. Feingold, A. (1992). Gender differences in mate selection preferences: A test of the

parental investment model. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 125-139.

3. Buss, D. M. (1989). Sex differences in human mate preferences: Evolutionary hypothesis

tested in 37 cultures. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 12, 1-49

4. Gangestad, S. W, & Simpson, J. A. (2000). The evolution of human mating: Trade-offs

and strategic pluralism. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 23, 573-644

5. Gangestad, S. W., & Buss, D. M. (1993). Pathogen prevalence and human mate

preferences. Ethology and Sociobiology, 14, 89-96.

6. Gangestad, S. W. (1993). Sexual selection and physical attractiveness. Human Nature, 4,

205-235.

7. Mehta, V (2013). A recent study lends insight into age differences in romantic

relationships [website]. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-

games/201308/when-it-comes-dating-do-age-differences-matter

8. Cosmides, L ; Tooby J (13 January 1997). "Evolutionary Psychology: A Primer". Center

for Evolutionary Psychology. Retrieved 2008-02-16.

9. Buss et al. 1998

10. David C. G, Jacob. V & Jennifer B.C (2003). Evolution of Human Mate Choice. Personal

and behavioral attribution, 31, 23-67.

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11. Larry A. N. Selecting a Mate [website]. Retrieved from

http://www.drnadig.com/selecting.htm

12. Kenrick, Douglast.; Ledlow, Susan; Ackerman, Josh (2003). International Encyclopedia of

Marrige and Family. Retrived from [website] http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-

3406900293.html

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APPENDIX

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PARTICIPANT INFORMATION LETTER

You have been invited to participate in a research project on mate selection, conducted by

by Nicolas Yap Wei Tyng, Teo Chong Yih, Melvin Lim, Lily and Mak Mun Chun under the

supervision of Ms. Chia Yee, Pang in the FNBE at Taylors University. This study is being

conducted to fulfill the requirements of Social Psychology course.

The researcher is interested in gathering information from participants to fill up the

questionnaire. The purpose of this study is to examine how human choosing their mate in term

psychology. In an initial meeting (approximately 5 minutes), you will be asked to fill out a

questionnaire about your mood and thoughts, as well as some demographic information about

yourself. Later, you will be asked to fill up a survey form which conducted some questions about

mate selection based on your thoughts. The researcher hopes to understand more about how

people choosing their mate.

Participation in this project will take approximately 15 minutes of your time, and your

participation in the research project will pose no harm. Your participation in this research project

is entirely voluntary. You may stop your participation in the research project at any time, without

penalty or prejudice. All information collected in the course of this project will remain

confidential and anonymous, and you will not be able to be identified from any of your

responses. Only the researchers and Ms. Pang Chia Yee

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Yee, Pang (Supervisor) will have access to the data resulting from this research project. All data

resulting from the research project will be retained for a period of five years after the completion

of the project, after which time it will be destroyed. If you have any questions or concerns about

this research project, you may consult with Ms. Pang Chia Yee, chiayee.pang@taylors.edu.my.

I understand that I can contact Ms. Pang Chia Yee, if I have any concerns about the ethical

conduct of this study.

__________________

(Signature of participant)

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The purpose of this survey form is to gather the information and examine on how people choosing their mate in term of psychology. Your participation in this research project is entirely voluntary. In order, for the information you provide to be useful, it is important that you answer these questions fully and candidly. To ensure confidentiality of you responses please return the questionnaire immediately after completed these questions and please do not include your name on the questionnaire.

1. Are you in a relationship?

Yes / No

2. Based on your opinion choose 3 factors that you think is important when selecting a mate. (Please

tick )

Factors

Kindness

Intelligence

Physical Appearance

Highly Educated

Healthy

Wealthy

Religious Orientation

Family Background

3. What range of age difference is acceptable?

1-5 , 6-10 , 11-15 , 16-20 , 21-25 , 26-30 , None of the above

4. Could you accept long distance relationship?

Yes / No

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5. Would you consider dating someone from a different race than yours?

Yes / No

6. Could you accept bad family history background such as drug addiction?

Yes / No

7. Do you think online dating works?

Yes / No

If yes, will you do?

Yes / No

8. Do you think speed dating works?

Yes / No

If yes, will you do?

Yes / No

9. Do you think blind date works?

Yes / No

If yes, will you do?

Yes / No

END

Thank you for the participation

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