bims-chumac 2021-05-16 papers

Issue of 2021–05–16
four papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society

Front Psychol. 2021 ;12 633267

The Association Between Relationship Events and Experiences and Partner Evaluations: An Ideal Standards Perspective.

Susan Chesterman, Gery C Karantzas, Emma M Marshall.

Drawing on the Ideal Standards Model, the current study investigated whether the relationship events and experiences that occur on a given day in romantic relationships were associated with partner evaluations. Individuals in a current romantic relationship (N = 104) completed daily measures of positive and negative relationship events and experiences and partner evaluations for seven consecutive days. As hypothesized, findings demonstrated that on a given day negative relationship events and experiences were associated with evaluating partners as falling short of mate ideals, while positive relationship events and experiences were associated with evaluating partners as more closely meeting ideals. The findings demonstrate the importance of the relational context in evaluations of a partner against ideal standards.

Keywords: discrepancy; ideal standards; partner evaluation; relationship events; romantic relationships

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.633267

Br J Psychol. 2021 May 09.

What is a face worth? Facial attractiveness biases experience-based monetary decision-making.

Gayathri Pandey, Vivian Zayas.

There is ample evidence that attractive individuals, across diverse domains, are judged more favourably. But most research has focused on single/one-shot decisions, where decision-makers receive no feedback following their decisions, and outcomes of their judgements are inconsequential to the self. Would attractive individuals still be judged favourably in experience-based decision-making where people make iterative decisions and receive consequential feedback (money gained/lost) following each decision? To investigate this question, participants viewed headshots of four financial partners presented side-by-side and repeatedly (over 50-100 trials) selected partners that would help maximize their profits. Following every partner-selection, participants received feedback about the net monetary gains/losses the partner had conferred. Unbeknownst to participants, two partners (one attractive, one unattractive) were equally advantageous (conferred net-gains overtime) and two partners (one attractive and one unattractive) were equally disadvantageous (conferred net-losses overtime). Even though attractive and unattractive partners were equally profitable and despite receiving feedback, participants selected attractive partners more throughout the task were quicker to reselect them even when they conferred losses and judged them as more helpful. Indeed, attractive-disadvantageous partners were preferred to the same extent (or more) as unattractive-advantageous partners. Importantly, the effect of attractiveness on decision-making was fully explained by the perceived trustworthiness of the financial partners.

Keywords: experience-based decision-making; facial attractiveness; implicit bias; incidental cues; person perception; social decision-making

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12495

Emerg Adulthood. 2021 Jun 01. 9(3): 217-228

Changes in expectations to marry and to divorce across the transition to adulthood.

Rachel Arocho.

Marriage and divorce expectations predict family life and personal outcomes. Understanding how expectations are associated with varying characteristics over emerging adulthood (ages 18-28) will inform understanding of emerging adult development. Panel Study of Income Dynamics Transition into Adulthood 2005-2015 data were used in hybrid-effects ordinal logistic regression to parse interindividual and intraindividual variation associated with relationship experiences, socioeconomic and contextual characteristics, and mental and emotional wellbeing. Partnerships were associated with optimistic expectations: both dating and cohabiting predicted greater marriage expectations and lower divorce expectations within individuals. Between individuals, greater time in full-time employment predicted more positive marital expectations, greater responsibility was associated with lower marital expectations, stronger religious identity predicted higher marital expectations and lower divorce expectations, having been arrested predicted greater divorce expectations, greater wellbeing predicted greater marriage expectations, and older age predicted lower marriage expectations. Both between and within individuals, greater worry predicted lower marriage expectations.

Keywords: future orientation; intimacy; marriage; romantic relationships; transition to adulthood

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696819879008

Arch Sex Behav. 2021 May 14.

Motivations for Engaging in Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships.

Jessica Wood, Carm De Santis, Serge Desmarais, Robin Milhausen.

Sexual, romantic, and intimate relationships provide opportunities for individual and interpersonal fulfillment and the enhancement of well-being. Though research has identified that consensual non-monogamy (CNM) offers unique relational benefits, little work has examined why individuals pursue CNM relationships. Both self-determination theory and self-expansion theory provide frameworks for understanding the range of intra- and interpersonal motives for choosing or negotiating a multipartnered relationship. We explored the reasons for which people engage in CNM and discuss how motivations for CNM might be linked to well-being and need fulfillment. Our study used a qualitative approach to examine the motivations individuals report for engaging in CNM relationships. As part of a larger online survey, participants completed open-ended questions examining motivations for, and experiences of, CNM relationships. Data from participants who indicated that they were currently in a CNM partnership was selected for the analyses (n = 540). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, within a critical realist framework. Motivations were organized into six interconnected themes: reasons related to autonomy, beliefs and value systems, relationality, sexuality, growth and expansion, and pragmatism. Individuals reported diverse reasons for engaging in CNM relationships; reasons addressed both individual and relational needs and well-being. Findings contrast with stereotypic views of CNM relationships as unstable/unfulfilling or that individuals engage in CNM because of relationship problems. The findings may facilitate therapeutic interventions for counselors working with individuals who are in the process of negotiating or re-negotiating relationship boundaries.

Keywords: Consensual non-monogamy; Relationship motivation; Sexual motivation; Thematic analysis; Well-being

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01873-x