Dependents as Signals of Mate Value: Long-term Mating Strategy Predicts Displays on Online Dating Profiles for Men

Mate value discrepancies (MVDs) predict multiple outcomes in romantic relationships, including relationship satisfaction, jealousy, and forgiveness. We tested the hypotheses that MVDs would predict anger and shame in response to both medium and strong transgressions within romantic relationships. Participants in long-term committed relationships read scenarios describing relational transgressions and rated how much anger and shame they would feel if they were either the victim or the perpetrator of the transgressions in their current relationship. We found partial support for our hypotheses. Victims of medium-level transgressions were angrier the more alternative potential mates there were that were closer to their ideal mate preferences than their current partner. Perpetrators of strong transgressions felt more shame the higher in mate value their partner was compared to them. Results suggest that different MVDs may predict different outcomes in relationships and highlight the importance of using functional theories of emotions to predict individual differences in emotional responses.

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Be yourself: Authenticity as a long-term mating strategy

Personality and Individual Differences ◽

10.1016/j.paid.2019.02.020 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 143 ◽

pp. 118-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lawrence Josephs ◽

Benjamin Warach ◽

Kirby L. Goldin ◽

Peter K. Jonason ◽

Bernard S. Gorman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mating Strategy

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Creating Relationships Using On-Line Dating Services: A Preliminary Mapping of French People’s Views

Universitas Psychologica ◽

10.11144/javeriana.upsy18-1.cruo ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Mélanie Gauché ◽

Lucie Brard

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Online Dating ◽

Short Term ◽

Emotional Involvement ◽

Five Factors ◽

On Line ◽

Scenario Technique ◽

The Relationship ◽

Affective Involvement

We explored people’s views regarding the kind of relationship that can be expected and created using such websites. In the current study, we used the same scenario technique. Vignettes depicting the kind of relationship an individual expected to find through the use of an online dating service were created by orthogonal combination of five factors: (a) passion; that is, the level of personal, affective involvement in the relationship, (b) intimacy; that is, the type of relationship desired (friendship vs. intimate/sexual), (c) commitment; that is, the expected duration of the relationship (short term vs. long term), (d) the user’s gender, and (e) the user’s age. Three contrasted positions were found. A minority of participants considered that creating a relationship using dating services was never very easy. A plurality of participants considered that creating either long-term romantic relationships or short-term, more “utilitarian” relationships was considerably easier than creating either short-term romantic relationships or long-term, more “utilitarian” relationships. Another plurality of participants considered that creating any relationship was quite possible. These participants disconnected the commonly admitted association between the duration of a relationship and level of emotional involvement. In other words, they considered that creating a passionate but short-lived relationship was not more difficult than creating any other kind of relationships.

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Relationship Status Moderates Men’s Conspicuous Consumption of Smartphones

Letters on Evolutionary Behavioral Science ◽

10.5178/lebs.2014.30 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 13-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Christine Hennighausen ◽

Frank Schwab

Keyword(s):

Conspicuous Consumption ◽

Mating Strategy ◽

Mating Strategies ◽

Relationship Status ◽

High Status ◽

Committed Relationships ◽

Short Term ◽

Web Based ◽

Signaling Systems

By applying the handicap principle, researchers have investigated men’s conspicuous purchases of high-status products as part of sexual signaling systems. Studies have suggested that, as part of short-term mating strategies, men are particularly willing to engage in conspicuous consumption to attract mates. Yet, this research has neglected to examine how relationship status influences conspicuous consumption. In our web-based study involving 352 participants (229 women), men tending towards short-term mating reported greater purchase intentions for a high-status smartphone only when single or in uncommitted relationships, while no association surfaced between mating strategy and conspicuous consumption among men in committed relationships. Results also revealed that, independent of mating strategy and income, single men and men in uncommitted relationships were more willing to purchase a low-status smartphone. Relationship status did not affect women’s conspicuous consumption. With these findings, we argue that relationship status significantly moderates men’s conspicuous consumption, as well as discuss purchases of low-status products as possible signals of men’s interest in long-term mating.

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Contraception – what about the men? Experience, knowledge and attitudes: a survey of 2438 heterosexual men using an online dating service

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh16235 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. 533 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mary Stewart ◽

Todd Ritter ◽

Deborah Bateson ◽

Kevin McGeechan ◽

Edith Weisberg

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Contraceptive Method ◽

Online Dating ◽

Older Men ◽

Heterosexual Men ◽

Attitudes And Beliefs ◽

Contraceptive Pill ◽

Emergency Contraceptive Pill ◽

Emergency Contraceptive

Background There is little research on men’s contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, yet the male partner is known to influence contraceptive choices. This study investigates contraceptive experiences, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of a sample of sexually active, heterosexual men via an online dating site. Methods: An anonymous online survey was sent to men who had logged onto an online dating site within the previous year. Results: We analysed 2438 survey responses. A contraceptive method was used at last intercourse for 82% of men <50 years old versus 69% of men ≥50 (P < 0.0001). Condoms (35%), vasectomy (22%) and the contraceptive pill (21%) were the most commonly used methods. Older men were less likely to use condoms than younger men (P < 0.0001). More than 80% of participants had heard of each method. The greatest perceived harm was with the emergency contraceptive pill, with 32% responding that it was ‘harmful to the health of the user’ and 37% not sure. Belief that contraception decision-making should be shared between partners increased from 57% in a ‘one-night stand’ to 75% in a casual relationship, to 92% in a long-term relationship. Conclusion: Among this sample there is high contraceptive use, especially vasectomy in older men and a desire to share contraceptive decision-making with their partners, especially in long-term relationships. However, low awareness of some methods and misperceptions about hormonal contraceptive method safety, especially the emergency contraceptive pill, highlight the need for education for men.

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Positive Customer Churn: An Application to Online Dating

Journal of Service Research ◽

10.1177/1094670518795054 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 90-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Andrea Dechant ◽

Martin Spann ◽

Jan U. Becker

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Survey Data ◽

Online Dating ◽

Customer Relationships ◽

Future Research ◽

Customer Churn ◽

Short And Long Term

In the service literature, churn is primarily attributed to customers who are dissatisfied with a service. However, in several industries, such as health care, weight loss services, and online dating, satisfied customers also churn because the service delivers on its promise, for example, by providing a cure, facilitating weight loss, or creating the circumstances that allow a person to meet their partner. Considering these dual churn pathways, it is necessary for companies in these markets to create awareness of what drives positive and negative churn to address the corresponding challenges for managing customer relationships. This study defines and theoretically discusses the concept of positive churn and outlines its consequences for companies in the short- and long term. Based on an analysis of combined observational and survey data from 1,369 customers, we empirically demonstrate the necessity of accounting for positive and negative churn by analyzing this phenomenon in online dating. Furthermore, this article discusses opportunities for future research on positive churn.

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Sex Differences in Response to Deception Across Mate-Value Traits of Attractiveness, Job Status, and Altruism in Online Dating

Archives of Sexual Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10508-021-01945-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jessica Desrochers ◽

Megan MacKinnon ◽

Benjamin Kelly ◽

Brett Masse ◽

Steven Arnocky

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Online Dating ◽

Mate Value ◽

Job Status

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I Want to Know What Love Is

Family Dynamics and Romantic Relationships in a Changing Society - Advances in Religious and Cultural Studies ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-2404-5.ch001 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 1-27

Author(s):

Nava R. Silton ◽

Alicia Ferris

Keyword(s):

Social Presence ◽

Online Dating ◽

Computer Mediated Communication ◽

Mediated Communication ◽

Media Richness Theory ◽

Computer Mediated ◽

Complex Development ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

The Rich

This chapter delves into the intricacies of liking, attraction, online dating, successful marriage and the roots of divorce to better explicate the rich, but complex development and maintenance of romantic relationships. More specifically, the chapter explores familiarity, similarity, gender, short and long-term dating intentions, trustworthiness, positive partner attraction, dominance, attachment security and other factors that pertain to attraction and liking. The chapter introduces The Cues Filtered out Theory, Social Presence Theory and Media Richness Theory, and delineates the benefits and limitations of online dating as it relates to computer-mediated communication. The chapter delineates the importance of similarity, communication and equity for successful relationships and the detriments of dissatisfaction and conflicts in unsuccessful relationships. Finally, the chapter shows how the Prepare/Enrich Program offers valuable advice for resolving conflicts, recognizing partner strengths, and creating a financially stable and productive life with one's partner.

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