The Role of Relational Communication Characteristics and Filial Piety in Mate Preferences: Cross-cultural Comparisons of Chinese and US College Students

Abstract

Previous cross-cultural mate preference studies have employed researcher-generated lists of traits constructed from Western samples. Yet people from different cultures may prefer traits that do not appear on the lists. Unexamined, too, is the importance of relational communication characteristics and filial piety in partner preferences. To examine similarities and differences in mate preferences, two studies were conducted with 277 college students from China and the United States. In Study I, responses from an open-ended question indicated that both groups listed honesty, physical attractiveness, ambitious and considerateness as preferred traits. Chinese students listed filial piety as one of their three most preferred traits in a partner. Study 2 explored the relative importance of students' preferred traits. As hypothesized, Chinese students valued social status and filial piety more highly than US students. Both groups preferred the relational communication traits of steadfast support and authentic ity over social status and physical attractiveness