As psychology and science see it, mating is the entire repertoire of behaviors that animals—including humans—engage in the pursuit of finding a partner for intimacy or reproduction The scientific studies of human mating have only recently risen, revealing fresh discoveries about mate attraction, mate choice, marital satisfaction, and other topics. Quirky and fascinating mating behaviors in the animal kingdom, from seahorses to peacock spiders.
Mammal Mating High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy
Idiom mate for life (definition of mating from the cambridge advanced learner's dictionary & thesaurus © cambridge university press)
The answer is a complex one
While basic biological drives are innate, successful mating involves learned social and emotional skills At its core lies the intersection of biology and culture. There are many ideas about human mating systems, varying from culture to culture While some cultures hold the ideal that monogamy is the best mating system for humans, others strictly believe in polygyny, while others yet practice polyandry or promiscuity within their culture.