Pickiness and Long‑Term Mating Decline

Unrealistic mate standards (heightened pickiness about looks and other traits) may be a measurable driver of declining rates of long‑term partnerships and marriage. Testing this requires representative partner‑preference data, longitudinal pairing outcomes, and decomposition of demand‑side (preferences) versus supply‑side (demographics) explanations. — If preferences are a main driver of falling long‑term mating, policy debates about fertility, family support, and social cohesion should address cultural and market incentives—not only economic constraints.