mate value
an overall assessment of a person’s desirability as a romantic or reproductive partner. Many factors contribute to a person’s mate value, such as youthfulness, physical attractiveness, status, and wealth. The higher a person’s mate value, the more selective he or she can be when choosing a partner. The concept of mate value was proposed by evolutionary theorists on the basis of ethological research with nonhuman animals, although it is now used by researchers with diverse approaches. Research has demonstrated that people generally form committed relationships with others who have roughly similar levels of mate value.