Family Matters: Rethinking the Psychology of Human Social Motivation

What motives do people prioritize in their social lives? Historically, social psychologists, especially those adopting an evolutionary perspective, have devoted a great deal of research attention to sexual attraction and romantic partner choice (mate-seeking). Research on long-term familial bonds (mate retention and kin care) has been less thoroughly connected to relevant comparative and evolutionary work on other species, and in the case of kin care, less well researched. Examining varied sources of data from 27 societies around the world, we found that people generally view familial motives as primary in importance, and mate-seeking motives as relatively low in importance. College students, single people, and males place relatively higher emphasis on mate-seeking, but even those samples rated kin care motives as more important. Further, motives linked to long-term familial bonds are positively associated with psychological well-being, but mate-seeking motives are associated with anxiety and depression. We address theoretical and empirical reasons why there has been extensive research on mate-seeking, and why people prioritize goals related to long-term familial bonds over mating goals. Reallocating relatively greater research effort toward long-term familial relationships would likely yield many interesting new findings relevant to everyday people’s highest social priorities.

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Family Matters: Rethinking the Psychology of Human Social Motivation

Perspectives on Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/1745691619872986 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 173-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ahra Ko ◽

Cari M. Pick ◽

Jung Yul Kwon ◽

Michael Barlev ◽

Jaimie Arona Krems ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Attraction ◽

Research Effort ◽

Well Being ◽

Partner Choice ◽

Research Attention ◽

Social Lives ◽

New Findings ◽

Familial Bonds ◽

Mating Goals

What motives do people prioritize in their social lives? Historically, social psychologists, especially those adopting an evolutionary perspective, have devoted a great deal of research attention to sexual attraction and romantic-partner choice (mate seeking). Research on long-term familial bonds (mate retention and kin care) has been less thoroughly connected to relevant comparative and evolutionary work on other species, and in the case of kin care, these bonds have been less well researched. Examining varied sources of data from 27 societies around the world, we found that people generally view familial motives as primary in importance and mate-seeking motives as relatively low in importance. Compared with other groups, college students, single people, and men place relatively higher emphasis on mate seeking, but even those samples rated kin-care motives as more important. Furthermore, motives linked to long-term familial bonds are positively associated with psychological well-being, but mate-seeking motives are associated with anxiety and depression. We address theoretical and empirical reasons why there has been extensive research on mate seeking and why people prioritize goals related to long-term familial bonds over mating goals. Reallocating relatively greater research effort toward long-term familial relationships would likely yield many interesting new findings relevant to everyday people’s highest social priorities.

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The Relationship between External Events and Affect States in Older People

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.2190/tppf-h0tu-ybu7-tabn ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 85-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Laraine Winter ◽

M. Powell Lawton ◽

Robin J. Casten ◽

Robert L. Sando

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Older People ◽

Positive Affect ◽

Well Being ◽

Negative Events ◽

Research Attention ◽

Conditions Of Stability ◽

Affect States ◽

The Relationship

Long-term and moderately short-term effects of bereavement and marriage on psychological well-being (PWB) among older people were investigated. The aspect of PWB that was examined was the prevalence of six affects, rated in terms of their frequency during the past year. Affect frequency of four groups was tested: Recently widowed, recently married, and widowed and married elders unselected for length of time in those marital statuses. As predicted, both length of time in the marital status and congruence between the positive event (marriage) and positive affect and between congruence of the negative event (bereavement and negative affect) were associated with group differences. Depressive affect was greatest among the recently bereaved but the recently-married, long-married, and longer-bereaved groups did not differ in depression. Positive affect was greatest among the recently married and other groups did not differ in this respect. Hostility, anxiety, shyness, and contentment were not predicted to differ among groups; in fact, contentment was least in the bereaved; shyness was least among the recently-married, and hostility was lowest among the long-widowed. Results are discussed in terms of the joint influences of time since a life event and the differential relevance of positive and negative affect states to positive and negative events. Continued research attention to the covariation of these factors in relation to the affective aspects of PWB is needed to understand the conditions of stability and change.

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Personality and Life Satisfaction Over 12 Years

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000141 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 37-48 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Benjamin Tauber ◽

Hans-Werner Wahl ◽

Johannes Schröder

Keyword(s):

Life Satisfaction ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Adult Development ◽

Aging Effect ◽

Well Being ◽

Research Attention ◽

Theoretical Reasoning ◽

Using Data ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Both theoretical reasoning and empirical data suggest that personality and well-being have substantial interrelationships. However, more longitudinal evidence is required, and the relationship lacks research attention from a lifespan perspective. We examined the mid-term and long-term interrelations of Neuroticism and Extraversion with life satisfaction in two cohorts from middle and late adulthood, using data from the “Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study of Adult Development (ILSE).” Multigroup, cross-lagged models reveal personality to be more predictive of life satisfaction than vice versa. Furthermore, an aging effect occurs regarding the relationships between life satisfaction and personality, with life satisfaction being predictive of personality only in the old cohort. Controlling for health weakens the interrelationship. Results add to the understanding of lifespan dynamics among personality and life satisfaction.

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Final Statement of the Second World Climate Conference

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892900021317 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 62-66 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Greenhouse Gases ◽

Research Effort ◽

Social Systems ◽

Well Being ◽

Natural Ecosystems ◽

Human Interactions ◽

Second World ◽

First World

Climate issues reach far beyond the atmospheric and oceanic sciences, affecting every aspect of life on this planet. The issues are increasingly pivotal in determining future environmental and economic well-being. Variations of climate have profound effects on natural and managed systems, the economies of nations, and the wellbeing of people everywhere. A clear scientific consensus has emerged on estimates of the range of global warming which can be expected during the 21 st century. If the increase of concentrations of ‘greenhouse’ gases is not limited, the predicted climate change would place stresses on natural and social systems unprecedented in the past 10,000 years.At the First World Climate Conference, in 1979, nations were urged ‘to foresee and to prevent potential man-made changes in climate that might be adverse to the well-being of humanity’. The Second World Climate Conference concludes that, notwithstanding scientific and economic uncertainties, nations should now take steps towards reducing sources and increasing sinks of ‘greenhouse’ gases through national and regional actions, with due negotiation of a global convention on climate change and related legal instruments. The long-term goal should be to halt the build-up of ‘greenhouse’ gases at a level that minimizes risks to society and natural ecosystems. The remaining uncertainties must not be the basis for deferring societal responses to these risks. Many of the actions that would reduce risk are also desirable on other grounds.A major international observational and research effort will be essential to strengthen the knowledge-base on climate processes and human interactions, and to provide the basis for operational climate monitoring and prediction.

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Improving Feeding Outcomes in the NICU: Moving From Volume-Driven to Infant-Driven Feeding

Perspectives on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia) ◽

10.1044/sasd19.3.68 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 68-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Catherine S. Shaker

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Dynamic Systems ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Well Being ◽

Dynamic Systems Theory ◽

Feeding Problems ◽

Care Giving ◽

Extremely Preterm ◽

Extremely Preterm Infants

Current research on feeding outcomes after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) suggests a need to critically look at the early underpinnings of persistent feeding problems in extremely preterm infants. Concepts of dynamic systems theory and sensitive care-giving are used to describe the specialized needs of this fragile population related to the emergence of safe and successful feeding and swallowing. Focusing on the infant as a co-regulatory partner and embracing a framework of an infant-driven, versus volume-driven, feeding approach are highlighted as best supporting the preterm infant's developmental strivings and long-term well-being.

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Intraindividual Variability and Stability of Affect and Well-Being

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000094 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 185-199 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Christina Röcke ◽

Annette Brose

Keyword(s):

Age Differences ◽

Well Being ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Emotional Experiences ◽

Short Term ◽

Regulatory Processes ◽

Functional Implications ◽

Methodological Approaches ◽

Underlying Processes

Whereas subjective well-being remains relatively stable across adulthood, emotional experiences show remarkable short-term variability, with younger and older adults differing in both amount and correlates. Repeatedly assessed affect data captures both the dynamics and stability as well as stabilization that may indicate emotion-regulatory processes. The article reviews (1) research approaches to intraindividual affect variability, (2) functional implications of affect variability, and (3) age differences in affect variability. Based on this review, we discuss how the broader literature on emotional aging can be better integrated with theories and concepts of intraindividual affect variability by using appropriate methodological approaches. Finally, we show how a better understanding of affect variability and its underlying processes could contribute to the long-term stabilization of well-being in old age.

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