[Vmysobfi]

Is there a biological explanation for why people tend to be attracted to individuals from ethnic or racial groups other than their own? It’s quite common and manifests itself in diverse ways culturally, from the popularity of interracial dating in real life to the big screen. Downton Abbey provides a perfect example of this attraction. In episode 3 of season 1 Mary seemed to be instantly interested in the Turkish Kemal Pomuk when she heard his name and his origins, and when they finally met they hit it off instantly. They say opposites attract, and this is very true. But why? Could it be a guard against incest?

When I was younger I found Southern European and Middle Eastern features very attractive. I found the Greek and Italian girls at my high school more attractive than the Slavic girls. As I grew older my attraction shifted and I became almost exclusively attracted to Celtic and Germanic women. It’s not that I don’t find women of my own ethnicity attractive, I just have a very strong preference for Celtic and Germanic women. I can almost sense that my wife will be Celtic or Germanic.

What do you think?

[sandyphoebetvmaa]

The big screen and real life are self-excluding. T.V. programs are not an objective representation of reality. Most people date and marry their own ethnic groups. Gosh, I'm starting to think you're trolling. For example, in Kazan the city I'm from 93% of Russian men marry russian women. It's 87% the other way around because of the scarcity of men. For 10 women there are only 9 men. So that one example dissproves your theory. And that's a 45% Tatar city

[h98hhYxM]

No, I don't think so. I think most people stick to their own. I live near Boston, and I see a lot of Brazilian Americans dating outside of our ethnic group. They usually date Italian Americans, Portuguese Americans, Irish Americans, WASPs, and "half Brazilians". I feel like the Brazilian American community isn't going to develop a distinct identity because of this, at least not here in the Greater Boston area.

I think it's because there's a shortage of potential partners of their ethnic group in the community they live in, which is why someone may opt to date outside their ethnic group. I imagine Slavs were a minority wherever you grew up. Maybe you would have more of a penchant for your own women if you were raised and went to school in a predominantly Polish American enclave.

---------- Post added 2012-04-22 at 17:03 ----------

The big screen and real life are self-excluding. T.V. programs are not an objective representation of reality. Most people date and marry their own ethnic groups. Gosh, I'm starting to think you're trolling. For example, in Russian 93% of Russian men marry russian women. It's 87% the other way around because of the scarcity of men in Russia. For 10 women there are only 9 men. So that one example dissproves your theory.

Well, I think he's speaking from an American perspective.

[xsexymasterix]

No, I don't think so. I think most people stick to their own. I live near Boston, and I see a lot of Brazilian Americans dating outside of our ethnic group. They usually date Italian Americans, Portuguese Americans, Irish Americans, WASPs, and "half Brazilians". I feel like the Brazilian American community isn't going to develop a distinct identity because of this, at least not here in the Greater Boston area.

I think it's because there's a shortage of potential partners of their ethnic group in the community they live in, which is why someone may opt to date outside their ethnic group. I imagine Slavs were a minority wherever you grew up. Maybe you would have more of a penchant for your own women if you were raised and went to school in a predominantly Polish American enclave.

---------- Post added 2012-04-22 at 17:03 ----------



Well, I think he's speaking from an American perspective.

Yeah, but I made a mistake in the post you quoted that I corrected. I was talking specifically about my city Kazan. It's almost half non-Russian, yet the vast majority of Russians stick with Russians, the vast majority of Tartars with Tartars and so on.
I think that's typical human behavior, no matter the country you're from.
Actually, men look for women that resemble their mother and women look for men that resemble their father, for that sense of familiarity. Often those are the couples that last longer in marriages. Divorce rates among interethnic couples is higher.

[bp9QxekG]

No, I don't think so. I think most people stick to their own. I live near Boston, and I see a lot of Brazilian Americans dating outside of our ethnic group. They usually date Italian Americans, Portuguese Americans, Irish Americans, WASPs, and "half Brazilians". I feel like the Brazilian American community isn't going to develop a distinct identity because of this, at least not here in the Greater Boston area.

I think it's because there's a shortage of potential partners of their ethnic group in the community they live in, which is why someone may opt to date outside their ethnic group. I imagine Slavs were a minority wherever you grew up. Maybe you would have more of a penchant for your own women if you were raised and went to school in a predominantly Polish American enclave.

I agree.

[huerta]

Yeah, but I made a mistake in the post you quoted that I corrected. I was talking specifically about my city Kazan. It's almost half non-Russian, yet the vast majority of Russians stick with Russians, the vast majority of Tartars with Tartars and so on.
I think that's typical human behavior, no matter the country you're from.

You could argue that it's because of cultural barrirers that this behavior happens, but in places like Britain or America those cultural barriers have largely been torn down.

[nabsgood]

I'm actually surprised at how rare an Interracial couple is. Even in Northern California. One just doesn't see it as often as is expected.


Most of it is White Male and Asian Female, and that's about it. The only other common one is Black Male White Female. Black Males seem to be the Most desired non-white males and Asian Women seem to be the most desired non-white Females. It makes sense that white people, who are seen as the Mainstream and the power holders, would have first dibbs on the most desirable mates.

[dhYTvlAv]

B]men look for women that resemble their mother and women look for men that resemble their father, for that sense of familiarity. Often those are the couples that last longer in marriages. Divorce rates among interethnic couples is higher.[/B]

In terms of what? Look only or personality? Personality transcends race and ethnicity and to some degree so does look.

[zithromaxlinks]

I'm curious, why don't people want to discuss this?