Association of life history strategy and mate retention behavior in men and women

Abstract

From an evolutionary perspective, both men and women use a variety of guarding tactics to keep their romantic partners in the relationship. For men, these benefits increase paternity certainty, while for women, they guarantee male investment in the woman and her children. The current research aimed to explore the association between life history strategy (LHS) and mate retention behaviors in men and women from Iran and the UK. We hypothesized that individuals with a slower life history strategy will show a positive association with benefit-provisioning mate retention (e.g., gift-giving, affection), and a negative association with cost-inflicting mate retention (e.g., emotional manipulation, threats). Across three studies we explored the link between life history strategy and mate retention behaviors among heterosexual adults in Iran and the United Kingdom, revealing that a slower life history strategy predicted benefit-provisioning mate retention strategies in men. Specifically, Iranian men with a slower life history strategy and better health were more inclined to employ benefit-provisioning behaviors to retain mates, unlike Iranian women, where education level and age inversely related to mate retention efforts. In the UK, women who considered financial benefits important in maintaining a relationship positively predicted cost-inflicting while age was negatively associated. For UK men, a slower life history and perceived financial importance in relationships were linked to employing both types of mate retention strategies. These findings highlight cultural differences in mate retention approaches and suggest socioeconomic and educational factors significantly impact these behaviors. The research underscores the complex interplay between ecological factors, life history strategy, and mate retention efforts, suggesting that individuals with a slower life history strategy are more inclined to use positive strategies for maintaining relationships, a trend more pronounced in men across both studied regions.