proponents of evolutionary theory assert that mate selection preferences are affected by the biology of reproduction, and that sex differences in mate preferences reflect biological differences regarding reproduction. on the other hand, the life-span developmental model sees development as a dialectical process in which the individual changes in response to societal demands. the life-span developmental model pays attention to social context to explain differences in the time of onset, direction, and duration of developmental stages. the current study utilized personal advertisements to examine and explore differences in mate preference throughout the life span, and to determine which theory was most fitting to dating in later life. overall, results indicated that both evolutionary theory and the life-span developmental model could be used to explain trends in dating preference