Kin quality hypothesis: The predictive role of kin quality in assessing mate desirability

Obtaining information about one's potential mate is a critical evolutionary process. Given this, the factors that go into assessing mate desirability (e.g. attractiveness, health) have been the subject of heavy study in the evolutionary sciences. However, less attention has been paid to the important cues of mate desirability that family members may provide as genetically similar individuals to a potential mate. Here, we present data from three studies (Total N = 1872) which document that the traits of family members do influence perceptions of potential mates; mates from desirable families were seen as more desirable themselves. Further, information about more heritable traits (i.e., attractiveness) were weighed more heavily in assessments of mate desirability than less heritable traits (i.e., wealth). However, this effect disappeared when participants were given direct information about the quality of the mate. If individuals are influenced by the traits of family members in their assessment of mate value, we add yet another variable to the equation of what makes a good mate.