Do Women Choose Their Partner Based on Environmental Factors, Genetic

Factors, or Both?

By: Cynthia McGrawArgosy University

Psy492 :Advanced General PsychologySpring II

Topic Information

It is said that women are likely to choose partners that are very similar to their fathers because of their influence to their environment.

I believe that genes play a large part in woman's choice in picking their partner.

Topic Information cont.(Our Environment)

Our environment is our physical and psychological surroundings.

One type of environmental influence is shared environmental influences.

Another type of environmental influence is nonshared.

Our environmental formed characteristics are harder to change.

Topic Information Cont...(Genes)

Genes are what initially influence a woman's decision on choosing a spouse.

After that their environmental influences enhance the decision making by bringing out the genetic characteristics.

Genetic characteristics can be changed by environmental interventions such as, therapy, counseling, medical treatment, etc.

What Women Want

• Women look for characteristics in their spouses that bring out their desired behaviors.

• Their behaviors also provoke a certain reaction from her partner.

Environment vs. Genes

• A woman's social support is likely more than likely to be inherited.

• Marital quality is likely to be learned through a woman's environment.

• Genetic influences affect behavioral problems and temperament more than environmental influences do.

Environment vs. Genes Cont...

• Overall, both environmental and genetic factors influence how women choose their spouses.

• Genetic factors influence how women choose their partners, but in the long run, nonshared environmental factors play a larger role in overall marital quality.

• The majority of the time environmental influences contribute to decision making more than genetic factors do.

Environment vs. Genes Cont...

• Environmental influences can influence women by it perceiving them to be something, so they are more then likely to be what their environment sees them to be.

Importance of Topic

It will help decrease the number of divorces in our society.

It was found that genetic traits can be adjusted to reach better outcome in relationships.

It can help improve treatments of distressed marriages.

Importance of Topic Cont...

• Better the mental health of our children.

• Couples can prevent unsatisfactory relationships and be able to give themselves satisfactory ones.

• Women can be more satisfied with their relationships with their husbands, making them happier as well as their families.

References

Ortega, S., & Cordova, J. (2009). Measuring Adult Attachment: An exploratory study investigating the relationships among marital satisfaction, emotion skills, and self-report and observational measures of attachment. 3. Retrieved from PsycEXTRA database.

Spotts, E., Neiderhiser, J., Towers, H., Hansson, K., Lichtenstein, P., Cederblad, M., et al. (2004). Genetic and environmental influences on marital relationships. Journal of Family Psychology, 18(1), 107-119. doi:10.1037/0893-3200.18.1.107.