DISCUSSION Essays - Behavior, Sexual Selection, Human Behavior

DISCUSSION Firstly, it is important to note that this study revealed that overall, honesty, kindness, ambition, good health and a sense of humour were the most valued partner qualities. This finding was consistent with that of Sprecher and Toro-Morn (2003) and Doosje, Rojahn and Fischer (1999); overall, these researchers found in their studies that partners who were honest and trust worthy, and those who were warm, kind ambitious and had a good sense of humour were highly desired by both men and women. One explanation was that such qualities were more valued because they usually contribute to happy and long lasting relationships more so than status or physical characteristics (Sprecher and Toro-Morn, 2003). Rubin as cited by Sears, Peplau and Taylor (1991) explained that traits such as honesty and trustworthiness are important because feelings of affection are based on these qualities for a partner and this is a necessary component for attraction. A study conducted by Folkes and Sears (1997) discovered that participants generally held positive attitudes towards interviewers who were warm and kind in their behaviours. One explanation can be derived from the fact that these traits can lead to positive affect, and positive affect can be classically associated with and result in attraction. Locally, Waithe (1995) alluded to the importance of humour in personal relationships. Waithe prescribed: Persons should feel comfortable in a relationship, and the couple should endeavour to make each other comfortable...couples can find that humour can be useful in providing some tension relief...(p.80) According to Waithe, sense of humour is definitely important in any relationship since 'laughing is the best medicine'. On the topic of ambition, it must be noted here that the sample was made up of persons with higher academic pursuits and the high value for ambitious partners may be directly linked to the fact that these individuals may posses the need for partners with similar intellectual or professional pursuits or passions. In relation to the balance theory, persons seek others with similar characteristics because it produces balance; this balance is emotionally pleasant and arouses positive affect and ultimately, attraction occurs (Newcomb as cited in Baron & Bryne, 2003). Regarding gender differences, women, more than men, valued partners who were kind, honest, ambitious, had a desire for children and high social status. Kindness and honesty, for women, are qualities that are greatly desired in any relationship. Dann (1987) highlighted the need for such qualities by Barbadian women: Just as men were looking for someone dependable with "no tricks", so too did they recognize that honesty was required in themselves. In other words, there appeared to be a male awareness of women's reluctant to enter a relationship with a man who was considered unsteady or unreliable, again possibly exploding the popular stereotype of male irresponsibility, at least at the level of attitude if not actual behaviour.(p.73) Women's high value on ambition and high social status was a consistent finding in past mate selection studies (for eg. Buss, 1989; Hatfield Hill, 1945). Regarding social role theory, Archer (1996) commented that women and men are socialized to behave in socially desirable and acceptable ways; they are socially expected to prefer attributes that are congruent with stereotypic expectations about gender roles. Women's expectations of a man to be the head of the house hold and to be the main bread winner has reinforced the value that they place on characteristics in potential mates such as ambition and high social status. In the Caribbean, Freilich (1968) discovered that women in an Eastern Trinidadian community placed stronger emphasis on status and material wealth than the men. It is a common cultural expectation in the Caribbean for women to rely on men to support them economically. Furthermore, most men enter relationships with this expectation as well. Along with ambition and high social status, women's strong preference for partners who desire children was also consistent with that of Sprecher and Toro-Morn (2003), in their American sample. This preference can be linked directly to the view that women are usually positive when it comes to having children, along with the fact that, unlike men, they have limited time attached to their 'reproductive clock'. Culturally speaking, one writer (Clarke, 1957) underscored the importance that Caribbean women attach to childbearing and motherhood: Not only is sexual activity regarding as natural, it is unnatural not to have a child and no woman who has not proved that she can bear one is likely to find a man to be responsible for her since ' no