A Review and Criticism of Theories of Mate Selection

High statistics of divorce among couples at the early years of their joint life shows that wrong mate selection is one of the influential factors for maladjustment and misunderstanding between couples. Accordingly, mate selection is regarded a decisive stage in every individual's life. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the present paper discusses the theory of homogamy, the hypothesis of similarity, the theory of complementary needs, and the theory of exchange. Then it reviews and criticizes them. In addition to empirical findings, Islamic sources are used to criticize these views. It seems that religious homogamy, harmony in religiosity of spouses and other moral characteristics such as chastity are emphasized in Islamic view, while other dimensions of homogamy are deemphasized.