Part 6/16:
Humans exhibit markedly different mating preferences depending on the context—long-term relationships versus casual encounters:
Short-term mating: Women may prioritize physical attractiveness more heavily—sometimes leaning toward traits associated with the "bad boy" archetype, such as risk-taking or arrogance. Men, meanwhile, often lower their standards in casual contexts, focusing primarily on physical cues.
Long-term mating: Women emphasize reliability, kindness, and qualities indicative of good parenting, employing 'mate copying,' where they unconsciously prefer men already deemed desirable by other women. Men focus on physical attractiveness, health, and youth as indicators of reproductive potential.