With the intent of integrating partial theories that have developed in the area of mate selection, this paper presents propositions extracted from the research literature (1950-1976). A logical ordering of these propositions is suggested and new propositions are derived by interrelating selected propositions. These conclusions are reached: first, the propositions from exchange theory can be used to explain all the others mentioned in the paper; second, a stage theory of mate selection has considerable support in the literature and may prove to be a valuable research area. (Author)