Some researchers believe there are universal attitudes and behaviors in our mate selection preferences that trace back millions of years. This theory is based on Charles Darwin’s concept of sexual selection.
In his 1859 book On the Origin of Species, Darwin argued that each plant or animal species developed distinctive characteristics that helped it survive in hostile environments. The organisms that had these characteristics were likely to survive and reproduce, passing their genes to future generations. Those that did not have these characteristics died, and their genes died with them.
But Darwin also noted that many animals developed characteristics such as bright feathers or large antlers that had no obvious survival value. In fact, bright feathers might hurt the chances of survival, because they would attract the attention of predators.
To explain this puzzle, Darwin proposed that some characteristics evolved not because they had survival value, but because they had reproductive benefits: they increased the chances that the animal would attract a mate and that their offspring would survive to reproduce.