This study explored the associations between nonsexual exclusivity ideals and relationship quality, adult attachment, and aggression in college students' dating relationships. Nonsexual exclusivity ideals were defined as the desired amount of time, emotional support, and self-disclosure engaged in exclusively with one's romantic partner. It was predicted that the discrepancy between nonsexual exclusivity ideals and perceptions would be a significant predictor of relationship quality, trust, and love, and relationship aggression; such that individuals whose perception of exclusivity in their current relationship met or exceeded their ideals would perceive significantly higher relationship quality, trust, and love for their partner and would be less likely to use aggression against their partner than those whose perception of exclusivity did not meet their ideal. Nonsexual exclusivity ideal-perception discrepancy and attachment anxiety were also expected to interact in the prediction of physical and psychological aggression in the relationship. A survey was administered to 400 undergraduates in order to test these predictions. Results supported hypotheses for the prediction of relationship quality, trust, love, and psychological aggression in the participant's current relationship. Implications of these results as well as suggestions for future research are discussed
