While this article makes many excellent points, ironically it omits a key factor touched on within the article itself. Cultural expectations play a non-trivial role in mate selection. US citizens from the moment they begin to gawp at a shiny screen are force-fed utterly unrealistic expectations of the partner they imagine they "deserve." As most people are very ordinary, lack much in the way of intellect, and these days are fat or obese, it's absurd to conclude that one is entitled to a far less ordinary mate. When people have empty heads and bulging guts, their expectation of a tall slender intelligent billionaire or a tall slender fashion model is clearly delusional. And yet, thanks to endless PC babble, they're told that despite their evident lack of any valuable personal qualities, anyone who fails to regard their supposed "wonderful inner self" is a self-centered superficial commitment-phobic loser. No wonder so many people are so unhappy, even when they end up settling because they finally realize they aren't going to do any better.