When it comes to having a large disparity of age in sexual and romantic relationships, it has been a relatively common occurrence in many societies and cultures throughout time. However, the most common pattern seems to be with the older man and the younger woman, and in many countries, the older woman and younger man scenario has begun to rise. In rare cases, age disparity can be seen as a dysfunction of some kind, a paraphernalia. If these kinds of relationships are explored exclusively, then often experts will designate it as a kind of disorder.

There are some very common reasons for looking to a much younger or older person with whom to engage in an intimate way, and these reasons for doing so can vary quite a bit. A common understanding, however, might relate to the notion that younger mates can fulfil the concept of a trophy wife, or perhaps an object that displays status, even though older mates are understood to have greater wealth and resources, sexual knowledge, or even wisdom.

Moreover, culture may play an active role when it comes to age-gap relationships, as certain cultures that once provided dowries may have actually helped to increase the age of the groom in question in relation to the wife. Certain countries and cultures that require compulsory service from just one sex without the other may even have a larger disparity in age. In addition, there are certain religious requirements that have within them rules about marrying older women and widows, and in some cases, the female in marriage will be quite a bit older than the male inside the marriage.

Many societies in which divorce might be more acceptable often deal with age disparity between individuals as a kind of re-assortment after divorce. By having access to monetary support from a previous marriage, this will allow certain mates to choose on the basis of compatibility and attraction—not for monetary reasons alone. Or in some cases, women may actually marry their mate of choice because of a parental foundation of support; often a woman may choose to be with a younger man because she is not relying on him for monetary purposes.