It is common for parents to influence mate choice — from
arranged marriages to more subtle forms of persuasion — but they often disagree
with their children about what makes a suitable partner. A new study has found
an evolutionary explanation for why some parents try to control who their
children pair up with.
The study, involving a University of Bristol researcher and
published today in the journal Evolution & Human Behavior, shows that this
conflict over mate choice may be rooted in an evolutionary conflict over
resources.