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The Classical Assortative Mating Process when more than one Continuous Characteristic is Considered
Author(s) -
Wilson Susan R.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
biometrical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-4036
pISSN - 0323-3847
DOI - 10.1002/bimj.4710230608
Subject(s) - assortative mating , position (finance) , population , statistical physics , process (computing) , mathematics , econometrics , mating , computer science , economics , physics , biology , ecology , demography , finance , sociology , operating system
In this article we give a general proof for the existence of the equilibrium position for the joint phenotypic distribution of several continuous characteristics, in a population which reproduces assortatively, and wherein generations are overlapping. This model is a more realistic one for human populations, compared with models arising from consideration of a single characteristic. By placing realistic conditions on the assortation process in the equilibrium position it is found that the consequences are even less realistic and less satisfactory compared with conclusions from single (continuous) characteristic models involving assortative mating. This suggests that a different approach to modelling the assortation process may be required, and this is discussed alsewhere (WILSON, 1981).