The impact of gender ideologies on men's and women's desire for a traditional or non-traditional partner

Two studies examine preferences for a long-term partner who conforms to traditional or non- traditional gender roles. The studies both demonstrate a link between benevolent sexism and preference for a traditional partner. However, Study 1 also demonstrates a strong preference among women for a non-traditional partner. We measured ambivalent sexist ideologies before introducing participants to either a stereotypically traditional or stereotypically non-traditional character of the opposite sex. In Study 1, women high in benevolence toward men reported a preference for a traditional man when compared to women low in benevolence toward men. We found no such link for hostility toward men. Study 2 showed that men high in benevolent sexism preferred a traditional woman more than men low in benevolent sexism. Again, this was not the case for hostile sexism. The studies provide evidence using both the Ambivalence Toward Men Inventory and the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory and demonstrate a relationship between benevolent ideology and partner choice that adds to a literature on partner preference which has to date been focused on preference dimensions of attractiveness and resources

Social comparisons on social media: THE impact of Facebook on young women's body image concerns and mood

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. The present study experimentally investigated the effect of Facebook usage on women's mood and body image, whether these effects differ from an online fashion magazine, and whether appearance comparison tendency moderates any of these effects. Female participants (. N=. 112) were randomly assigned to spend 10. min browsing their Facebook account, a magazine website, or an appearance-neutral control website before completing state measures of mood, body dissatisfaction, and appearance discrepancies (weight-related, and face, hair, and skin-related). Participants also completed a trait measure of appearance comparison tendency. Participants who spent time on Facebook reported being in a more negative mood than those who spent time on the control website. Furthermore, women high in appearance comparison tendency reported more facial, hair, and skin-related discrepancies after Facebook exposure than exposure to the control website. Given its popularity, more research is needed to better understand the impact that Facebook has on appearance concerns

Being grateful: Does it bring us closer? Gratitude, attachment and intimacy in romantic relationships

To date, little is known about the function of gratitude in romantic relationships. Being grateful has been demonstrated to provide a number of positive benefits for individuals; however, few studies have explored how grateful experiences may be beneficial in enhancing romantic relationships. This study explored the extent to which adult attachment moderates the relationship between dispositional gratitude and the experience of intimacy within romantic relationships. A greater disposition toward gratitude was expected to result in more frequent experiences of gratitude. It was also anticipated that experiences of gratitude would be associated with feelings of closeness. Participants (n = 156) were required to be currently in a relationship of at least six months duration and completed a series of questionnaires assessing dispositional gratitude, attachment and emotional intimacy. Moderation analysis revealed that although a positive, weak correlation existed between dispositional gratitude and intimacy, attachment did not moderate this association. It was concluded that further investigation of the experience of gratitude is necessary to understand the function of gratitude in romantic relationships. Methods focusing on specific experiences of gratitude in romantic relationships, and the associated feelings of closeness experienced by each partner, may yield more conclusive findings and may provide support for therapeutic approaches focused on enhancing closeness between couples by increasing experiences of gratitude

Laienkonzeptionen von Beziehungsqualität

In vier aufeinander aufbauenden Untersuchungen wurde der Frage nachgegangen, welche Vorstellungen Laien von einer guten heterosexuellen Paarbeziehung haben. Dabei interessierten nicht nur die inhaltlichen Aspekte dieser Vorstellung, sondern auch, ob sich das Konzept "Beziehungsqualität" als Prototyp beschreiben ließ. In einer ersten Untersuchung wurden zunächst Merkmale einer guten Beziehung erfasst, indem 120 Personen alle ihnen spontan einfallenden Aspekte einer guten Paarbeziehung aufschreiben sollten. Eine inhaltsanalytische Auswertung der genannten Merkmale führte zu einer Liste von 64 nicht idiosynkratischen Nennungen, die in einer zweiten Untersuchung von 107 Probanden hinsichtlich ihrer Prototypikalität beurteilt wurden. In der dritten Untersuchung wurden die Konsequenzen der Prototypikalität der Merkmale für die Informationsverarbeitung überprüft. Bei einer Wiedererkennungsaufgabe mit 100 Probanden zeigte sich, dass zentrale Merkmale des Konzepts häufiger als periphere fälschlicherweise wiedererkannt wurden. Vergleichbare Effekte zeigten sich auch beim reinen Reproduzieren. In der letzten Untersuchung schließlich bei 97 Probanden wurde der Einfluss der Prototypikalität auf die zur Beurteilung der jeweiligen Merkmale benötigte Zeit untersucht. Dabei zeigte sich in Übereinstimmung mit dem Prototypenansatz, dass die Beurteilung von zentralen Merkmalen mit signifikant niedrigeren Reaktionszeiten als die Beurteilung von peripheren Merkmalen verbunden war. Ingesamt stützen die Ergebnisse die Annahme, dass das Konzept "Beziehungsqualität" eine prototypische Struktur aufweist. Konsequenzen der Ergebnisse für die weitere Forschung werden abschließend diskutiert

Warum wir aufeinander fliegen. Die Gesetze der Partnerwahl

Hassebrauck M, Küpper B. Warum wir aufeinander fliegen. Die Gesetze der Partnerwahl. Rororo : Taschenbücher. Vol 61347. Reinbek: Rowohlt; 2002

Das prototype matching-Modell des Entscheidungsverhaltens: Darstellung des Modells und erste Ergebnisse

Available from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, Duesternbrook Weg 120, D-24105 Kiel W 1155 (97.26) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

Pattern of disconfirming information and processing instructions as determinants of stereotype change

This experiment examined the effects of pattern of disconfirming information (concentrated vs. dispersed) and processing instructions (focus on similarities vs. differences vs. control) on stereotype change. If subtyping and perceived typicality are central tu thr stereotype change process, then processing instructions designed to affect these processes should affect stereotyping. There was lower stereotyping when perceivers focused on similarities between group members, and after exposure to a dispersed pattern of disconfirming information. Only the: main effect of pattern was mediated by the perceived typicality of disconfirmers, but not by an index of subtyping based on clustering of information from disconfirmers in recall. Results support a model of stereotype change in terms of the impact of disconfirming group members who, are also seen as typical of the group; subtyping of extreme disconfirmers may work in parallel, or later, and contribute to the long term maintenance of a stereotype

Interpersonelle Attraktion

Hassebrauck M, Küpper B. Interpersonelle Attraktion. In: Frey D, Irle M, eds. Theorien der Sozialpsychologie. Bern: Hans Huber; 2002

short- and long-term relationship orientation and 2D:4D finger-length ratio

Recent studies have shown that preferences for close relationships (Long-Term Relationship Orientation) are independent of preferences for various sexual partners (Short-Term Relationship Orientation). In the current studies, we hypothesized that Short-Term Relationship Orientation would be negatively related to 2D:4D finger-length ratio (i.e., the more masculine, the higher Short-Term Relationship Orientation). Study 1 found a negative relationship between Short-Term Relationship Orientation and right, but not left, hand 2D:4D among 91 male participants. Study 2 found a negative relationship between Short-Term Relationship Orientation and left, but not right, hand 2D:4D among 65 male participants, even after controlling for age, relationship status, social desirability, and sex drive. Female participants (n = 142) did not show this relationship in Study 2. This sex difference was discussed in terms of flexible female sexual strategies, which are supposed to be contingent on the local environment or menstrual cycle variations