What kinds of things influence the process of selecting a partner - Essay Example

Factors influencing the process of selecting a partner Details: al Affiliation: Factors influencing the process of selecting a partnerThe process of selecting a marriage partner is no doubt an important decision that one can ever make during a lifetime. It not only sets the tone for a lifelong lifestyle but also determines one’s daily routine, which includes the daily activities and the amount of physical and mental energy spent on these activities; a situational conditionality that dictates to a greater extent both the immediate and the long-term rewards.

It is a process that signifies individual value systems with a higher degree of conferring status in the society through the varying opportunities for individual advancement (Cobb, Larson & Watson, 2003). The question of human phenotypes playing a significant role in today’s social bias and relationship governance is not disputable. However, human mate selection is unique with a myriad of factors coming on board to govern relationships, as opposed to mere observable characteristics. Mate selection refers to one’s ability to relate inner feelings (hopes and fears) to another person’s and to accept that intimacy is a compromise that leans on biological (genetic) and sociological and moralistic factors.

In addition to traits deemed attractive, marriages are products of either social status or advancement; the two main standards that define identity (Muraco, 2008). Family background characteristics such as parental education, marital status and race greatly impact the formation relationships among young adults. Adolescents with educated parents are more likely to have a college education, delayed investment in romantic relationships, and so to marriage commitments or cohabitation due increased likelihood of college attendance.

Also influential in the process are issues of parental divorce and remarriages, which may sway children’s relationship formation with consequential effects to marriage and cohabitation patterns in adulthood (Raley, Crisey & Muller, 2007; Holtzman, 2008). Additionally, adolescent variant experiences with the opposite sex as well as union formation patterns in adult mentors may instill some of sense of confidence in determining relationship status. In fact, adolescent relationships are associated to a much more set of characteristics and familiarities that are often carried to adult union formations.

Associations (having opposite-gender friends) at this stage tend to render know-hows into likeable attributes such as attractiveness, maturity, religious involvement and academic performance with an additive of self-esteem boost towards closeness (Raley, Crisey & Muller, 2007). Adolescents (both sexes) with religious affiliations and academic commitments, for instance, are le less likely to engage in sexual involvements as teenagers but are more likely to commit to a romantic relationship leading to marriage at some point.

Such relationships offer both parties new identities as girlfriends or boyfriends, which changes perceptive view of the self and unto others. Noteworthy, the development of relevant skills in selecting mates begins during childhood life experiences with parents and peers. Thus, the effect of romantic involvements in teenage hood only sharpens skills already inexistent with a new layer of managerial aspects. In particular, adolescent romance harnesses interpersonal skills useful in facilitating the much need communication and emotional management.

Notably, those in constant practice of managing relations right from childhood acquire more relationship skills and possibly take less time establishing marriage commitments than those who are less exposed (Raley, Crisey & Muller, 2007). ReferencesCobb, N. P., Larson, J. H. & Watson, W L. (2003). Development of the Attitudes About Romance and Mate Selection Scale. Family Relations, 52, 222-231.Holtzman, M. (2008). Defining Family: Young Adults’ Perceptions of the Parent-Child Bond. Journal of Family Communication, 8, 167-185.

Muraco, A. (2008). Intentional Families: Fictive Kin Ties Between Cross-Gender, Different Sexual Orientation Friends. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68, 1313-1325.Raley, R. K., Crissey, S. & Muller, C. (2007). Of Sex and Romance: Late Adolescent Relationships and Young Adult Union Formation. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69, 1210-1226.