This Valentine's Day researchers at University of Iowa have taken the opportunity to a question that has haunted people for eternity - what men and women want in a partner.
In their study, University of Iowa sociologists Christine Whelan and Christie Boxer, found that men are increasingly interested in an educated woman who is a good financial prospect and less interested in chastity.
On the other hand, women prefer a man who wants a family and less picky about whether he's always Mr. Nice Guy.
For the study, the researchers analysed results of a 2008 survey of more than 1,100 undergraduates at the UI, the University of Washington, the University of Virginia and Penn State University, comparing the results to past mate-preference studies.
Since the 1930s, researchers have been asking college students to rank a list of 18 characteristics they'd prefer in a mate from "irrelevant" (0) to "essential" (3), allowing for a comparison of mate preferences dating back three generations.
And it was found that today's young adults rank love and attraction as most important, which didn't even make the top three a few generations ago.
"Marriage used to be a practical arrangement. Getting married for love or attraction was considered foolish and perhaps even dangerous," said Whelan, author of "Marry Smart: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to True Love" and a visiting assistant professor of sociology in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
In the 1930s male respondents were seeking a dependable, kind lady who had skills in the kitchen. Chastity was more important than intelligence.
But, the recent results indicate that guys look for love, brains and beauty, and if the lady has a sizable salary to her credit, it's an added advantage.
Men ranked "good financial prospect" No. 12 in 2008, a significant climb from No. 17 in 1939 and No. 18 in 1967.
"These results are consistent with the rise in educational and career opportunities for women, and men's increasing desire to share the financial burdens with a future spouse," said Whelan.
However, chastity, which men ranked at No. 10 in 1939, fell to dead last in 2008.
"When we administered the survey, several female students snickered at the idea that we even included the chastity item. This is consistent with the widespread hook-up culture on college campuses," said Whelan.
Women of the 1930s ranked emotional stability, dependable character and ambition as the top three characteristics they wanted in a man. Attraction and love didn't come in until No. 5.
But today, women, like men, put love at the top of the list, with dependability and emotional stability rounding out the top three characteristics in their Mr. Right.
The ladies rated desire for home and children much higher in importance than men do.
In 2008, women rated desire for home and children fourth men ranked it ninth.
The researchers compiled a list of what the sexes look for in their prospective mates.
What Men Want
Essential characteristics:
Mutual attraction and love.
Dependable character.
Emotional stability.
Important characteristics:
Education and intelligence.
Good looks.
Ambition.
Desirable characteristics:
Good financial prospect.
Good cook and housekeeper.
Unimportant characteristics:
Similar political background.
Chastity.
What Women Want
Essential characteristics:
Mutual attraction and love.
Dependable character.
Emotional stability.mportant characteristics:
Education and intelligence.
Desire for home and children.
Ambition.
Desirable characteristics:
Good looks.
Refinement.
Unimportant characteristics:
Similar political background.
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