Is the infrequency of interracial relationships due to biological reasons or social reasons?

Question

Are people more biologically attracted to those of their own race, or is it merely a social phenomenon?

Answer 1

I would say that its due to our environment. A black person is more likely to be raised in a black community/family, so they will be more comfortable around those persons. Same goes for the white person, asian, etc. By being exposed to diversity at a young age, people would feel more comfortable around diverse groups.

Answer 2

To draw upon what other people have said, most races in the United States are extremely mixed (not just Latinos, although they are a great example).  For example, because white and black Americans have experienced admixture since they existed together in this country, European Americans are more genetically similar to African Americans than present day Europeans.  The same goes for African Americans being more genetically similar to European Americans than Africans.  I think that this is proof, that biologically, different races are attracted to each other, but that the social stigmas surrounding interracial relationships are what primarily discourage them.

I definitely agree that people tend to be more attracted to those that they grew up around (definitely an environmental factor, not a biological one as previously suggested).  In this case, the segregated nature of communities in this country would definitely account for the small number of interracial relationships in proportion to relationships between people of the same race.  This all goes back to what I think is the big problem: the seeming unwillingness or fear of older generations (and even younger generations) to exist in a mixed environment.

Answer 3

I really don't think that it is a biological thing, more of a social acceptance thing. Of course, as years go on, society will be more accepting of interracial relationships, because it is inevitable. A lot of it depends on your family and how they respond to this situation. But I say, love is love, and race differences shouldn't stop that.

Answer 4

If the infrequency of interracial relationships were biological then Latinos or Hispanics would not exist. As time goes on, they have less of a social stigma. I'm not sure where you live but they are becoming increasingly common. They are not as infrequent as you think.

Answer 5

I read a study a while back (sorry I do not have a source) which indicated that people will tend to be more attracted to the people who look like the people they were around when they were very young.

This would seem to be a biological reason, but note that the people you are around when you are an infant or toddler is something that is largely due to social factors. In a more socially stratified society (like the US was especially before the end of segregation and still is to a considerable extent), young kids will tend to only or mostly see people of their own race, making them more attracted to people of their own race. The de facto racial segregation in the US would, if the study I mention is correct, be a reason why, due to this biological mechanism, interracial relationships are rarer than they otherwise would be.

Answer 6

I disagree with your conclusion.  I don't see infrequency of inter-racial relationships.  As a matter of fact, both men, and women, are quite attracted to other races than their own.  I married a beautiful Puerto Rican and found that women of my race liked French men.  I think we are attracted to opposites although I'm not so sure that means a lasting relationship anymore than if we married within our own race.

Answer 7

there are very few people of pure bloods of any one ethnic group, if you check back in their genealogy's you will find that most are of mixed blood. especially caucasians, as the European people were constantly being conquered by different ethnic groups.  You had better look around more carefully, we are fast blending into a brown skinned society