Assortative mating and turnout: a self-reinforcing pattern of unequal voting participation

Previous research finds that privileged citizens have more influence on democratic decisions than less advantaged citizens. One explanation put forward is unequal voting participation between socioeconomic groups. This paper contributes by studying how such inequalities are reproduced in couple formation. It sets out to answer two questions using British panel data. First, to what extent does assortative mating vs social influence account for correspondence in turnout behavior of couples? Second, does assortative mating and social influence contribute to social inequalities in turnout? The results show that the relationship between living with a partner and turnout is highly dependent on the voting participation of the partner, and that, regardless of individuals’ own previous voting participation, individuals with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to enter relationships with potential voters. The unequal selection into relationships with voters and nonvoters shows that unequal voting participation between socioeconomic groups can be self-reinforcing through assortative mating.

What Makes a Partner Ideal, and for Whom? Compatibility Tests, Filter Tests, and the Mating Stability Matrix

We introduce a typological characterization of possible human heterosexual couples in terms of the concordance-opposition of the orientations of their active and receptive areas as defined by the tie-up theory. We show that human mating incentives, as characterized by widely adopted approaches, such as Becker’s marriage market approach, only capture very specific instances of actual couples thus characterized. Our approach allows us to instead explore how super-cooperation among partners vs. convenience vs. constriction may be regarded as alternatives modes of couple formation and cohesion, leading to very different types of couples with different implications in terms of stability and resilience. Our results may have interesting implications for future experimental research and for individual and family counseling.

Histories of Couple Formation and Migration: The Case of Foreigners in Lombardy, Italy

Migrant families have become relevant in Italy during the past decade and Lombardy is one of the Italian regions with the largest foreign presence. The aim of the article is to contribute to the international debate on the relationship between couple formation and migration event. Using data from the 2010 ORIM ( Osservatorio Regionale sull’Immigrazione e la Multietnicità) sample survey and event history techniques, we look at the main determinants of the transition to couple formation. The results show both the presence of significant time-related interrelations between the two events and the importance of the gender role in migration. Migrant men have a low propensity of couple formation in the period around the migration event. Their length of stay at destination is positively related to such propensity. Women have the highest likelihood of transition to couple formation in proximity to the migration event. However, interesting differences in the timing of union formation persist by origin backgrounds.

Couple formation and spawning between two female Discus Fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus - Cichlidae) in captivity

ABSTRACT In an experiment performed to characterize the reproductive behavior of the discus fish in captivity, couple formation with two females was observed. The observations were carried out in captivity, based on ad libitum methodology. Adult individuals were allowed to naturally form couples. The couple formation was considered when individuals performed the substrate cleaning behavior. Fifteen couples were selected. The eggs of three couples did not initiate embryonic development and became infeasible within three days after spawning. We found that these spawnings belonged to all-female couples. The sex of the individuals in same-sex couples was confirmed through subsequent couple formation and spawning of fertile eggs with known males. Eggs were deposited by one or both females in the same-sex couples. Double spawnings were larger and differentially colored. The motivations that lead individuals of the same sex to form couples in this species are still unknown.

Description of the reproductive behavior of Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Cichlidae) in captivity

ABSTRACT The blue discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) is often sold for ornamental purposes. It is a neotropical cichlid from South America, which is native to the rivers of the Amazon basin of Brazil, Peru and Colombia. The purpose of this study was to characterize the reproductive behavior of S. aequifasciatus and identify features that can later be used by breeders to facilitate the handling and reproduction of this species in captivity. The experiment was divided into two stages: the first dealt with partner selection and couple formation to observe the behaviors of territoriality, pursuing, fleeing, biting, stay, protecting and cleaning of the substrate. The second stage documented mating behavior, nesting and parental care, to observe vibration, spawning, permanence with the offspring, aeration of eggs, cleaning of spawning, color change and shift-taking in parental care. The results of the study allowed identifying disputes for and establishment of territory, as well as the selection and cleaning of the substrate for spawning performed by both sexes. The parental care was observed from spawning in the substrate until the care for the larvae. It was found that the reproductive success of this species is closely linked to biparental care observed during the entire reproductive process and early stages of the hatchings.