C099

Mate Attraction Drive

B14 Instinctive Core
Core LayerMML-2

Version v1.3.2

Definition

A drive to be attractive to potential partners: appearance investment, behavior signals, flirting, and social visibility.

Poles

Each HES element is a spectrum, not a category: the Low and High poles describe how it presents at its two extremes, while the Reference marks the typical, everyday middle. The poles map variation across the range — neither end is inherently better or worse.

Low Pole

Low mate attraction drive: low investment into attractiveness signaling; fewer display behaviors.

High Pole

High investment into appearance and social signaling; active flirting and visibility-seeking.

Reference

Life-phase dependent: higher during search, lower during stable bonding.

Measure

Investment into attractiveness signals (time/money/attention to image and signaling).

Measuring Methods

• Behavioral tracking: regularity of image maintenance.
• Comfort vs. attractiveness choices.
• Observation: flirting frequency; display gestures.

Empirical Anchor

Mate attraction drive / sexual selection psychology (Buss, 1989); mating effort; sociosexuality (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991).

Notes

• Not equivalent to momentary “sexual state”; this is a motivational module.
• Risks at MIN: fewer relationship opportunities (if desired).
• Risks at MAX: attention dependence; risky ties.

Citation

APA

Human Elements System. (2026). Mate Attraction Drive (HES Passport C099, v1.3.2). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/C099

BibTeX

@misc{hes_C099, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Mate Attraction Drive}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport C099, v1.3.2}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/C099}} }