New research at Indiana University — based on participants’ observations of speed-dating interactions — suggests that humans (like birds and fish) engage in “mate choice copying,” where an individual copies the mate selections of others, even perfect strangers. I guess we sort of knew this, even though we tend to assume we’re most influenced by friends and family. Study author Skyler Place, Ph.D., suggests that choice copying may make evolutionary sense: “We might think that searching for mates is a process best done individually, that we can best gather the appropriate information by ourselves,” he says. “But humans, like many other animals, also pay attention to the preferences of others, to make for a more efficient search process. Who others like might also be a good choice for ourselves.” Right, but that’s assuming the others have good taste, which is an assumption that has not always been borne out by, e.g., the American electorate, the gods who choose the popular kids, Idol voters, etc. So maybe mate choice copying is something we should evolve out of?