June 16, 2010

Mating

Here is an interesting piece for us to consider! The research seems to originally be psychological/biological, but the findings certainly are sociological! How interesting to consider that our witnessing others' successful mate selection can influence our own mating patterns. http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/16/mate-choice-influenced-by-others/ I recall several times in my life when a friend got married, engaged, or fell in love, and the next time I looked around, several OTHER friends had also gotten married, engaged, or fallen in love! I have referred to this as "love fever", thinking that it was somehow contagious ;) With this article, I now understand that others have witnessed this phenomenon and that it's scientifically based!
Thanks to http://reginanuzzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/43747756.jpg for the graphic.

1 comment:

  1. I find this interesting because what it is showing is how people within a society are socialized to learn social norms through social pressure. I think that by viewing the other person’s successful find of a partner influences an individuals search for a partner because people are socially regulated by their peers. During the socialization process people are shaped to go in a particular direction to help encourage certain behaviors. Socialization often occurs unconsciously; however I think “mate copying’ is amplified in the American society by images such as the nuclear family that is often the ‘family’ in popular media. This influences society’s view of their “mate choice”, therefore emphasizing the social norms mates.
    These actions can be considered contagious because people are always modifying their role in society. Individuals do this by comparing themselves with a group, whether that group is close friends or the distant media. It is very interesting to watch the trend of people getting married at the same time and I think it just shows how strong the socialization process is in a person’s everyday actions.

    ReplyDelete