1 Psychology 320: Gender Psychology Lecture 37

2 Invitational Office Hour Invitations, by Student Number for January 21 st 11:30-12:30, 3:30-4:30 Kenny

3 1. What characteristics do females and males desire in a mate? (continued) 2. Are there sex differences in the experience of love? Romantic Relationships:

4 By the end of today’s class, you should be able to: 1. identify sex similarities and differences in mate preferences. 2. review theories of sex differences in mate preferences and the research findings that support them. 3. discuss sex similarities and differences in Sternberg’s components of love and Lee’s love styles.

5 What characteristics do females and males desire in a mate? (continued) Explanations for sex differences in importance of resource potential and physical attractiveness:

6 1. Evolutionary explanation: Emphasizes sex differences in minimal parental investment. 2. Social role explanation: Emphasizes division of labour between males and females in traditional societies. 3. Social construction explanation: Emphasizes social norms regarding desirable characteristics.

7 Although sex differences consistently emerge with respect to the importance of resource potential and physical attractiveness, research indicates that these characteristics are relatively unimportant to both sexes:

8 Hatfield and Sprecher, 1995  Assessed mate preferences in Japan, Russia, and the US.  In all cultures, found that both sexes valued “internal” attributes (e.g., kind) more than “external” attributes (e.g., physically attractive).

9 Mate Preferences Among Males and Females in Japan, Russia, and the US (Hatfield & Sprecher, 1995) * Significant difference.

10 Moreover, research suggests that both sexes are attracted to individuals who possess attributes similar to their own. Thus, research supports the “similarity-attraction” hypothesis (vs. the “potential-attraction” hypothesis) for both sexes.

11 Anna Nicole Smith and Howard Marshall Donald and Melania Trump Hugh Hefner and Girlfriends

12 Danny Divito and Reah Perlman Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Beyonce and Jay-Z

13 Are there sex differences in the experience of love? Several theories of love have been proposed by psychologists. Among these theories are:

14 1. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love  Maintains that there are three components associated with love: passion, commitment, and intimacy.  Identifies 8 types of love based on the presence or absence of these components.

15 Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love (Sternberg, 1986, 1997) Passion Intimacy Commitment

16 Size of triangle = Amount of love Shape of triangle = Type of love Intimacy CommitmentPassion Intimacy PassionCommitment

17 Sternberg’s Taxonomy of Kinds of Love (1986)

18  Research has examined sex similarities and differences with respect to Sternberg’s three components of love: Sternberg, 1997: F > M in intimacy, but F = M in commitment and passion.

19 2. Lee’s Theory of Love Styles  Maintains that there are (a) three primary love styles: eros, storge, and ludus, and (b) three blends of love styles: mania, pragma, agape.

20 LUDUS Pragma Agape EROSSTORGE Mania Lee’s Theory of Love Styles (Lee, 1973; Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)

21 Love StyleDescriptionSample Item ErosRomantic and passionate love. I feel that my lover and I were meant for each other. StorgeFriendship love.It is hard to say exactly where friendship ends and love begins. LudusGame-playing love.I try to keep my lover a little uncertain about my commitment to him or her. ManiaManic, dependent, and possessive love; blend of eros and ludus. When I am in love, I have trouble concentrating on anything else. PragmaPractical (“shopping list”) love; blend of storge and ludus. I consider what a person is going to become in life before I commit myself to him or her. AgapePure and altruistic love; blend of eros and storge. I would endure all things for the sake of my lover. Lee’s Taxonomy of Love Styles (Lee, 1973; Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)

22  Research has also examined the correlation between self-esteem and Lee’s love styles: Hendrick and Hendrick, 2002; Lacey, 2004: F > M on storge and pragma; M > F on ludus and agape.  Research has examined sex similarities and differences with respect to Lee’s love styles: Hendrick and Hendrick, 2002: Positive correlation with eros and ludus; negative correlation with mania; no correlation with storge, pragma, and agape.

23 1. What characteristics do females and males desire in a mate? (continued) 2. Are there sex differences in the experience of love? Romantic Relationships: