Montag, 27. Juli 2015

Romantic Love and Sexual Desire in Close Relationships

Romantic Love and Sexual Desire in Close Relationships
GC Gonzaga et al. (2006)


Abstract

Drawing on recent claims in the study of relationships, attachment, and emotion, the authors hypothesized that romantic love serves a commitment-related function and sexual desire a reproduction-related function. Consistent with these claims, in Study 1, brief experiences of romantic love and sexual desire observed in a 3-min interaction between romantic partners were related to distinct feeling states, distinct nonverbal displays, and commitment- and reproductive-related relationship outcomes, respectively. In Study 2, the nonverbal display of romantic love was related to the release of oxytocin. Discussion focuses on the place of romantic love and sexual desire in the literature on emotion.

[Romantic love has something to do with behavioral synchronization; sexual desire isn't necessarily connected with the "urge for behavioral synchronization". In the case of biparental care behavioral synchronization is necessary or at least beneficial.]

Day-to-Day Changes in Intimacy Predict Heightened Relationship Passion, Sexual Occurrence, and Sexual Satisfaction : A Dyadic Diary Analysis

Day-to-Day Changes in Intimacy Predict Heightened Relationship Passion, Sexual Occurrence, and Sexual Satisfaction : A Dyadic Diary Analysis
Harris Rubin and Lorne Campbell (2012)


Abstract

The current research tested a model proposed by Baumeister and Bratslavsky (1999) suggesting that passion’s association with intimacy is best understood as being linked with changes in intimacy over time. Within this framework, when intimacy shows relatively large and rapid increases, levels of passion should be high. When intimacy remains unchanged over time, levels of passionate experience should be low. To test this hypothesis, 67 heterosexual couples involved in long-term relationships completed daily measures of intimacy, passion, and sexual satisfaction for 21 consecutive days. Analyses guided by the actor–partner interdependence model (Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) demonstrated that day-to-day changes in intimacy for both partners predicted relationship passion, sexual frequency, and sexual satisfaction in a manner conforming to Baumeister and Bratslavksy’s model. These results represent the first empirical support for this model of intimacy and passionate experience.

Samstag, 4. Juli 2015

Do We Have Valid Country-Level Measures of Personality?

Do We Have Valid Country-Level Measures of Personality?
[MQ Summer 2015 - p 70-92 / 360-382], Gerhard Meisenberg (2015)


Abstract

While country-level differences in psychometric intelligence and school achievement are used increasingly in cross-cultural research, far less is known about country-level differences in personality. This article summarizes cross-country research with measures of the Big Five personality dimensions. The conclusion is that these measures have limited reliability and validity when used at the level of country averages. Possible reasons and remedies for this situation are discussed.


Happiness in modern society: why intelligence and ethnic composition matter

Happiness in modern society: why intelligence and ethnic composition matter
Satoshi Kanazawa &, Norman P. Li (2015)
Journal of Research in Personality


Abstract

Recent developments in evolutionary psychology suggest that living among others of the same ethnicity might make individuals happier and further that such an effect of the ethnic composition on life satisfaction may be stronger among less intelligent individuals. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health showed that White Americans had significantly greater life satisfaction than all other ethnic groups in the US and this was largely due to the fact that they were the majority ethnic group; minority Americans who lived in counties where they were the numerical majority had just as much life satisfaction as White Americans did. Further, the association between ethnic composition and life satisfaction was significantly stronger among less intelligent individuals. The results suggest two important factors underlying life satisfaction and highlight the utility of integrating happiness research and evolutionary psychology.