Forget Mr. or Ms. Right. They do not exist and you should not be wasting your time looking for them if you plan to marry.
Just in time for Valentine's Day is news from evolutionary researchers at Michigan State University who say people that choose someone less than perfect are often ahead of the evolutionary game. And are happy.
They also say obsessing over finding Mr. Right or Ms. Right is wrong. You should be looking for Mr. or Ms. OK, instead, said a story in mLive, the website of Michigan State University (MSU).
"An individual might hold out to find the perfect mate but run the risk of coming up empty and leaving no progeny," explained co-author Chris Adami, professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at MSU.
"Settling early for the sure bet gives you an evolutionary advantage, if living in a small group."
While studying the evolution of risk aversion, Adami and Arend Hintze, a research associate at MSU, discovered it's in our nature to take the safe stake when chances are high, like whether or not we'll mate.
Adami said we're faced with the choice of either mating with the first potentially inferior companion but at the risk of having inferior offspring, or waiting for Mr. Right or Ms. Perfect to show up. Adami said if we choose to wait for Mr. Right or Ms. Perfect, it's likely we risk never mating at all.
Adami and Hintze used a computational model to trace risk-taking behaviors through thousands of generations of digital organisms. They programmed the digital organisms to make decisions in a similar way that natural organisms (like humans) must make in real life.
But those that really believe Mr. or Ms. Right is out there will do well to brace themselves for a tough fight. Renowned advice guru Dr. Phil McGraw has got a book that should help titled "Love Smart: Find the One You Want -- Fix the One You Got," which is available on Amazon.