The Power of Love: Neural and Behavioural Correlates of the Economics and Congruency of Mate Choice
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Why do we fall for some people and not others? And does it matter how many options we have when we decide? This project investigates the psychology and neuroscience of partner choice, focusing on a well-known but poorly understood phenomenon: people tend to choose partners who match their own level of attractiveness. Using a realistic simulation of a dating app - much like Tinder or Bumble - we will study how having limited "likes" shapes who we choose, and whether we become more selective when our choices are scarce and our decisions cannot be undone. In a second study, we will record brain activity and physiological responses while participants make these decisions, identifying the neural signatures of choosing someone who feels "just right" versus someone who feels out of reach. Together, these studies will shed new light on the cognitive and neural underpinnings of one of the most universal human experiences.
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7140223003