Childhood caregivers in moulding future mate selection criteria (case study in Hong Kong)

Abstract

Psychoanalytic theory and attachment theory suggest that mate selection is heavily related to caregivers in infant period and childhood. They explain that people seek qualities from caregivers in mate selection. On the contrary, free choice theory of determinism claims that mate choices definitely reflect people’ own free will. Individuals choose their partners according to their own interest. Both theories contradict with each other, and therefore it is worth to be tested. Thus, in-depth interviews were conducted on 8 respondents in Hong Kong to test on the above theories. Findings gave support on Psychoanalytic theory and attachment theory, that tendency of resemblance from caregivers in mate selection is approved. In addition, gender and family variations are discovered in this study and provide a new horizon to mate selection study. It is found that men are more likely than women to seek qualities of caregivers in mate selections. Also, intimate family relationship and shared role of care taking lead to the resemblance of whole family members. The above findings give information on how children’ mate choice is mould.