This study aimed to know to which extent human values and personality traits are correlated with desirable attributes of an ideal partner among heterosexuals. Participants were 205 people (100 women and 105 men) from the general population of João Pessoa-PB, Brazil. They answered the following instruments: Basic Values Survey, Big Five Inventory, Attributes of Ideal Partner Scale as well as socio-demographic questions. The values were correlated in a theoretically expected way with the attributes of an ideal partner, being more relevant than the personality traits. When they were compared, men and women differed in the importance given to these attributes. Finally, the hierarchical model of personality traits → values → attributes showed to be adequate. The findings were discussed based on the evolutionary perspective on mate choices and the functionalist theory of human values.
Attributes; partner; relationship; values; personality
