Human mating strategies

Human mating strategies are a topic of interest in (evolutionary) psychology, behavioral ecology, and anthropology. Strategies used to seek and retain mates often overlap with reproductive strategies.

Humans may seek out individuals with the intention of forming a long-term intimate relationship, marriage, casual relationship, or (romantic) friendship. The desire for companionship and sex drive are some of the strongest motivations of human behavior. Relative to those of other animals, human mating strategies are unique in their relationship with cultural variables such as the institution of marriage. Except in cases of arranged marriages, the human mating process involves one person meeting another to assess his or her suitability, courtship, and the formation of an interpersonal relationship. Commonalities, however, can be found between humans and nonhuman animals in mating behavior, as in the case of animal sexual behavior in general and assortative mating in particular.

Human mating strategies also affect and are affected by sexuality, religion, culture, politics, and economics.