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Review
. 2016 Oct-Dec;14(4):1474704916678626.
doi: 10.1177/1474704916678626.

An Evolutionary Perspective on Mate Rejection

Ashleigh J Kelly  1 , Shelli L Dubbs  1 , Fiona Kate Barlow  1
Affiliations
Review

An Evolutionary Perspective on Mate Rejection

Ashleigh J Kelly et al. Evol Psychol. 2016 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

We argue that mate rejection and ex-partner relationships are important, multifaceted topics that have been underresearched in social and evolutionary psychology. Mate rejection and relationship dissolution are ubiquitous and form integral parts of the human experience. Both also carry with them potential risks and benefits to our fitness and survival. Hence, we expect that mate rejection would have given rise to evolved behavioral and psychological adaptations. Herein, we outline some of the many unanswered questions in evolutionary psychology on these topics, at each step presenting novel hypotheses about how men and women should behave when rejecting a mate or potential mate or in response to rejection. We intend these hypotheses and suggestions for future research to be used as a basis for enriching our understanding of human mating from an evolutionary perspective.

Keywords: mate choice; mating; rejection; relationship dissolution; relationships; selection; violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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