Influence of acculturation on variances in mate preferences

Abstract

Acculturation is defined as the process by which an individual is influenced by their host culture, and by one's culture of membership (Berry, 2003). In the vast literature of mate preferences, cultural influences have been predominantly documented as cross-cultural variation (Marcinkowska et al., 2014; Little, Jones & DeBruine, 2011; Buss et al., 1990) or temporal differences within the same culture (Souza, Conroy-Beam & Buss), 2014). However, the process of acculturation has not been explored as a significant influencer of mate preferences. With the changing growth of multicultural people within a country in mind, the current study explored the influence of acculturation, as a process of psychosocial adjustment, on mate preferences,
Acculturation towards heritage and host (UK) culture was explored in 65 participants, 40 femailes and 25 males, who were asked to rate 40 Caucasian faces of men and women manipulated for facial symmetry, averageness, health and sexual dimorphism. Acculturation towards host culture was found to be significantly related to variance in mate preferences in females (p=.01). While, heritage culture acculturation was found to be significantly influential for males' mate preference (p < .05). Language preference, as a behavioural indicator of acculturation, was only significantly related to females' mate preferences (p < .05). The presented results highlight the sex differences within acculturation to UK culture, and it's influence on mate preferences. Such findings provide preliminary evidence to consider the interactive role of acculturation in future mate preference research.