The mutual sequential mate search model under nonhomogenous preferences

Abstract

This paper extends the Todd and Miller’s mutual sequential mate search model with homogenous preferences to the case of non-homogenous preferences. Our simulations show that the size of heterogeneity in the preferences affects the performance rankings -as well as the absolute success levels- of the mate search heuristics in the model with respect to both mating likelihood and mating stability. In particular, we find that mate search heuristics that are more egalitarian in setting aspirations become more successful under sufficiently heterogenous preferences.

Keywords:

• mate choice
• mate search
• non-homogenous preferences
• simple heuristics

Note

Notes

1 See, Eriksson and Häggström (2008) and Eriksson and Strimling (2009) for discussion on these preferences.