The impact of modernization on mating strategies in Iran: A comparison across cities versus small towns

The mating market in Iran has shown an increased rate of relationship formation. In such relationships, the most important pillar is physical attractiveness. We adopt an evolutionary perspective to understand this trend. Through comparing districts with different levels of modernization, this study explores the effects of modernization on mate preferences in Iran. We propose that rapid modernization reduces the preference for long-term relationships and has led to a rise in short-term mating strategies. We predict that the rise of short-term mating strategies will be reflected in higher frequencies of relationships and prioritizing physical attraction in mateseeking in modern versus non-modern areas. We collected data across states and interviewed 504 participants from 3 big cities (i.e., highly modernized) and 14 small towns and villages (i.e., less modernized). We found evidence of mating patterns in Iran that aligns with our predictions. We provide some plausible theoretical explanations and discuss the implications of these findings.