Partner Attractiveness Research Articles

Robust evidence for moderation of ovulatory shifts by partner attractiveness in Arslan et al.'s (2020) data.

Arslan et al. (2020) conducted a large-scale, preregistered daily diary study on over 400 normally ovulating women. Of core interest were hypotheses that women's ratings of their partner's sexual attractiveness moderate associations of fertility status with women's own extrapair sexual desires, their own interest in in-pair sex, and their partners' mate retention tactics. The authors claim that "no evidence for moderator effects" (p. 426) was found. In fact, their own analyses reported in their supplementary material show robust evidence for moderation effects. Moreover, a new reanalysis using a more comprehensive composite measure of male partner sexual attractiveness yielded even stronger results. Effect size estimates are consistent with the existence of large, meaningful moderation effects, revealing that this study actually does show evidence of moderation effects. Additional analyses show similarly strong moderator effects on male proprietariness. We discuss the findings in the context of reliance on binary (significant vs. nonsignificant) labels and the pitfalls of underreporting effects. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Role of Emotion Projection, Sexual Desire, and Self-Rated Attractiveness in the Sexual Overperception Bias

A consistent finding in the literature is that men overperceive sexual interest in women (i.e., sexual overperception bias). Several potential mechanisms have been proposed for this bias, including projecting one’s own interest onto a given partner, sexual desire, and self-rated attractiveness. Here, we examined the influence of these factors in attraction detection accuracy during speed-dates. Sixty-seven participants (34 women) split in four groups went on a total of 10 speed-dates with all opposite-sex members of their group, resulting in 277 dates. The results showed that attraction detection accuracy was reliably predicted by projection of own interest in combination with participant sex. Specifically, men were more accurate than women in detecting attraction when they were not interested in their partner compared to when they were interested. These results are discussed in the wider context of arousal influencing detection of partner attraction.

Body Image Projection Bias in Heterosexual Romantic Relationships: A Dyadic Investigation.

Guided by projection bias perspectives, this article sought to advance understanding of the associations between body image and relationship and sexual satisfaction within heterosexual romantic relationships. Across two studies, both members of heterosexual dating and/or married couples reported on their body image, perceptions of partner's attraction to the self, own attraction toward the partner, and relationship satisfaction. Study 2 also incorporated measures of participants' body mass index (BMI) and sexual satisfaction. Across both studies, women with poorer body image perceived their partner to be less attracted to them (irrespective of their partner's actual attraction to them, or how attracted they were to their partner), which in turn was associated with lower relationship and sexual satisfaction. For men, attraction to their partner was consistently associated with their own relationship satisfaction. Results demonstrate that projection biases are a possible mechanism through which body image is associated with romantic relationship and sexual satisfaction, and hint at the particular relevance of appearance-related projection biases for women's relationship and sexual satisfaction.

Do women and men click differently? Mobile devices as a gender-balancing technology

A common finding in research on mate selection is that men place greater value on physical attractiveness whereas women place greater value on nonphysical qualities in assessing the attractiveness of potential partners. The present study suggests that these gender differences can inform our understanding of user behavior at the confluence of two contemporary technological contexts — online dating and mobile device use. We hypothesize that the inclusion of verbal information (i.e., communicating nonphysical qualities) alongside visual information (i.e., communicating physical qualities) in online profiles affects attractiveness assessments by women to a greater extent than it affects those by men. We further hypothesize that these gender differences are mitigated by use of a mobile device instead of a PC. These hypotheses are tested in a controlled online experiment, in which participants are asked to use either a mobile device or a PC to assess the attractiveness of profiles that include a photo either with or without descriptive text. The results support the selectivity model, which provides the theoretical foundation for the hypotheses, by showing that men and women process information differently and that these gender differences are eliminated by raising the threshold for elaborative processing. The findings extend the selectivity model, as well as the literature on online dating and mobile use, by highlighting gender differences in processing specific information types and by identifying the device as a boundary condition.

ПЛАТФОРМА PROСИБИРЬ: ПЕРВЫЙ ГОД РАБОТЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ

The article aims to review the experience of creating and launching the ProSiberia platform, and to discuss the prospects for its further development. Based on the aggregation of digital sources of Siberian origin, the ProSiberia project aims to create a research platform that will bring together scholars, content curators (libraries, museums, archives) and society in order to study Siberia and position the region in the global information space. Work on the platform began in 2020 within the framework of the Program for Increasing the Competitiveness of National Research Tomsk State Unversity by the staff of the Tomsk State University Research Library. Now the platform has implemented opportunities both for humanitarian researchers and for civic science representatives (volunteers). For researchers, access to digital copies of texts about Siberia with detailed description and full-text search is organized; it is possible to create one’s own collections of texts; there are some text collaboration tools. It is also possible to find researchers with similar interests and exchange views. A volunteer can edit texts, operate a blog, participate in challenges. The platform is also being filled with new texts. Prospects for the development of the project are considered; they were formulated based on the results of surveys and focus groups. The main directions of development include: work on improving the quality of texts (attracting volunteers for their correct recognition); aggregation of digital tools for the humanities in one place for effective work with texts; attraction of partners; integration into the educational process. The most difficult issue is the aggregation of digital tools. The article lists their most interesting groups: tools for creating and working with digital facsimiles, textometric tools, and a number of tools for working with digitized manuscripts. Thus, at the moment, the initial version of the ProSiberia platform has been created. It allows implementing remotely the basic functions characteristic for any research in the field of humanities. However, most probably, the most important and difficult will be the next stage of the work, which includes, among other things, the aggregation of digital tools for working with the text of interest for the researcher. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a broad discussion in the professional community of both the work already done within the ProSiberia project and the further prospects for its development.

Supplemental Material for Robust Evidence for Moderation of Ovulatory Shifts by Partner Attractiveness in Arslan et al.’s (2020) Data

Supplemental Material for Robust Evidence for Moderation of Ovulatory Shifts by Partner Attractiveness in Arslan et al.’s (2020) Data

Качество межличностных отношений и удовлетворенность браком молодых людей

Objective. Analysis of the relationship between the assessment of interpersonal relations and satisfaction with marriage among young spouses in an official and civil marriage. Background. Against the background of the growing number of divorces, the need to analyze and understand the factors associated with marriage satisfaction among nowday’s youth is increasing in order to develop programs for overcoming difficulties in communication and maintaining relationships. Study design. The work examined the relationship between interpersonal relationships and marital satisfaction. The presence and nature of the relationship was checked through correlation, regression, factor analysis and automatic modeling (SPSS). The survey was conducted individually or in a group before the start of the pandemic. Participants. 108 young spouses, of which 30 couples, 48 respondents took part without their partners (44.44% of boys, 55.56% of girls) from 20 to 35 years old (M=28.6; SD=2.83). Measurements. Marriage Satisfaction Test Questionnaire (MAR); test questionnaire “Analysis of family anxiety” (ACT); Russian-language versions of the questionnaire “Scale of love and sympathy” and methods of researching partnerships Partnership Questionnaire (PFB); PEA questionnaire to identify the level of understanding, emotional attractiveness and authority (respect) of partners in marriage. Results. A complex system of relationships was revealed between the types of relationships between partners, indicators of family anxiety and satisfaction with marriage. Satisfaction with marriage increases in case of manifestation of love and sympathy in interpersonal relationships, experiences of emotional attraction between partners, respect and rare use of conflict behavior. Predictors of marital satisfaction have been identified, and a standard model of interpersonal relationships has been described, which allows predicting marital satisfaction at a young age. Main conclusion. There is a complex systemic relationship between the assessment of the quality of interpersonal relationships and the perception of satisfaction with marriage in young spouses and partners in a civil marriage, the knowledge of which allows you to create a model of the relationship system in order to predict the satisfaction with marriage of young people and prevent conflicts in relationships leading to their destruction.

The strategic role of corporate online references: building social capital through signaling in business networks

PurposeThis paper aims to conceptualize corporate reference management as a strategic signaling activity in business networks. While research has extensively outlined how firms develop and maintain social capital through business-to-business (B2B) relationships, less is known about how they signal their participation in business networks to develop this social capital. Therefore, this paper conceptualizes B2B references, in particular corporate online references (COR), as a tool through which firms “borrow” attractiveness from their business network. Through the lens of structural social capital theory, COR is shown to capture advantages related to interconnectedness between firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reports on a two-step qualitative and quantitative research design. First, the authors undertook a qualitative study that reports on the COR practices of senior business managers. A quantitative study then uses social network analysis (SNA) to audit a digital business network comprising 1,098 firms in a metropolitan area of the UK, referencing to each other through their corporate websites using COR.FindingsThe analyses find that COR practices contribute to building structural social capital in networks through strategic signaling. Firms do so by managing B2B references to craft strategic signals, using five steps: requesting, granting, curating, coding and decoding references. While the existing literature on business marketing portrays reference management as a routine and operational management practice, this investigation conceptualizes reference management, in particular COR, as a strategic activity.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to use SNA to represent B2B references in the form of COR as a network, which overlaps with (but is not entirely identical to) the business network. Further, the study re-conceptualizes reference management as a strategic signaling activity that leverages the firm’s participation in business networks to build structural social capital by borrowing attractiveness of prestigious business partners that leverages existing structural social capital. Finally, the paper coins and conceptualizes COR as an exemplar of referencing management and offers propositions for further research.

The German energy transition as soft power

Germany represents a new and unconventional actor in the field of energy foreign policy. Based on its reputation as an energy transition frontrunner, it is pursuing a soft power strategy aimed at promoting its Energiewende policy approach abroad. Germany’s bilateral energy partnerships, this paper argues, represent the government’s central policy instrument for this purpose. After a discussion of the German energy transition as a soft power resource, the paper provides an in-depth empirical analysis of Germany’s bilateral energy partnerships. The paper argues that the partnerships have been deliberately designed as instruments for mobilizing the Energiewende narrative as soft power. Linking it to concepts in the soft power debate, it discusses the main channels through which the partnerships aim to boost the attractiveness of German policy solutions and persuade partners to consider their adoption. The paper concludes with a discussion of implications for further research on the international political economy of energy.

Does the Dark Triad predict self-perceived attractiveness, mate value, and number of sexual partners both in men and women?

Previous literature has shown associations between the Dark Triad (i.e., narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy), other-perceived attractiveness, and personality. Nevertheless, the study of the Dark Triad as predictor of traits related to sociosexual dynamics (i.e., self-perceived attractiveness, mate value, and number of sexual partners) still remain unknown. Hence, we aimed to fill this gap by assessing the relationship between these variables in a mixed-sex sample of young-adults. The results showed that: 1) narcissism and psychopathy, but not Machiavellianism, were positively correlated to number of sexual partners for the group of men and the group of women separately. 2) only narcissism was positively correlated to self-perceived attractiveness and mate value in both sexes. 3) narcissism successfully predicted higher self-perceived attractiveness and mate value both in men and women; whereas narcissism, psychopathy, and sex significantly contributed to the prediction of number of sexual partners. We discuss our results in the light of the interaction between evolutionary thinking and socioenvironmental factors.

International partner selection among higher education institutions in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan: a resource-based view

ABSTRACT Cross-border partnerships are increasingly important for higher education in the twenty-first century. Drawing from the business sector’s resource-based theory, this paper explores international partner selection among higher education institutions in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. According to resource-based theory, institutions may seek partners with specific technical capabilities, managerial capabilities or other intangible resources to access external knowledge and capabilities, develop internal resources and gain competitive advantage. Through document analysis and interviews, this investigation identified twelve attributes that influenced international partner selection for higher education institutions in these contexts. Eleven fit within resource-based theory’s criteria areas of technical capabilities, managerial capabilities and intangible resources. These determined the attractiveness of potential partners. However, existing relationships, the twelfth attribute, wasoften the deciding factor of whether or not a partnership would move forward. Importantly, while contextual differences were observed, these attributes were present across contexts.

Makeup usage in women as a tactic to attract mates and compete with rivals

Appearance alterations are an important part of human history, culture, and evolution that can serve many functions. Cross-culturally, women more than men use makeup as a specific, temporary, personalized, and relatively accessible technique for appearance alteration. Women wear makeup to attract attention and/or to mask their imperfections, and indeed, made-up women are on average perceived as more attractive, healthy, promiscuous, and as having higher prestige. Makeup use can thus be related not only to potential partner attraction but also to a rival competition. We aimed to test whether makeup usage in women is predicted by evolutionary relevant factors such as self-reported mate value or intrasexual competition. In total, 1344 Brazilian women responded online about frequency of makeup usage, money spent on makeup per month, and time spent applying makeup per day. They further reported their mate value, intrasexual competition, age, relationship status, reproductive status, sociosexuality, and income. Exploratory correlations and the final regression models indicate that age, intrasexual competition, and mate value positively predict makeup usage. Thus, makeup usage may have a dual evolutionary utility, serving as a behavioral tactic of both intersexual attraction –including alteration of age perception– and intrasexual competition.

The Influence of Emotional Closeness on Interindividual Touching

Interpersonal tactile stroking stimulation activates different peripheral nerve fibers, especially C-tactile afferents, which encode pleasant and erotic sensations. Hence, humans typically stroke close interaction partners with velocities that are suited to stimulate C-tactile afferents in the touch receivers’ skin. We aim to replicate this finding and we furthermore hypothesized that humans adjust their stroking velocity depending on the relationship with the interaction partner. We tested 60 participants in total (29 men, 31 women, mean age 23.3 years ± 3.6 years SD). They were asked to stroke their partner, their friend, a female stranger, a male stranger, an artificial arm and a table. Stroking was recorded by a video camera and each participant rated the emotional closeness to and attractiveness of each human interaction partner. In addition, we determined the velocity that each participant preferred to be stroked with in a forced choice paradigm. The participants stroked other humans slower and more in the optimal range for C-tactile fiber activation than non-humans. The stroking velocity was related to ratings of sympathy. The participants did not adjust their stroking velocities towards the stimulation they preferred for themselves. In conclusion, our study reaffirms that interindividual stroking touch is targeted to activate C-tactile fibers in the touch receiver. Furthermore, humans adjust their stroking velocity according to sympathy and interindividual attraction.

АНАЛІЗ ВПЛИВУ ПСИХОСЕКСУАЛЬНОЇ ПРИВАБЛИВОСТІ ПАРТНЕРІВ НА ЗАДОВОЛЕНІСТЬ ШЛЮБОМ НА РІЗНИХ СТАДІЯХ ПОДРУЖНЬОГО ЖИТТЯ

Стаття присвячена теоретичному обґрунтуванню та емпіричному розгляду особливостей психосексуальної привабливості партнерів, її впливу на задоволеність подружніми взаєминами на різних стадіях подружнього життя. Проаналізовано зміст проблеми в науковій літературі, визначено основні компоненти сексуальної привабливості партнерів; досліджено психосексуальну привабливість подружніх пар з різним стажем шлюбу тощо. Виявлено, що задоволеність шлюбом залежить від низки факторів психосексуальної привабливості, а саме: емоційності взаємин партнерів, наявності взаєморозуміння; спільності поглядів й інтересів партнерів; емоційно-візуальної привабливості; сексуальної привабливості; інтенсивності і змісту спілкування; функціонально-рольової узгодженості. Досліджено, що чим більший подружній стаж, тим вищими є показники окремих компонентів психосексуальної привабливості, а саме: товариськість, впевненість у собі, візуальна привабливість, спільність поглядів. При цьому знижуються сексуальний потяг, психологічне благополуччя, сексуальна задоволеність. Доведено, що психосексуальна привабливість впливає на задоволеність шлюбом та його стабільність. Разом з тим, із збільшенням подружнього стажу виявлено зниження показників задоволеності шлюбом та психосексуальної привабливості. Отримані результати мають важливе практичне значення і можуть використовуватись сімейними психологами у роботі з подружніми парами з метою надання психологічної допомоги щодо гармонізації подружніх взаємин.

Partner Selection: Decision-Making as Experienced by Engaged and Married Couples

Determining who to marry can be one of the most meaningful and daunting decisions an individual can make during their lifetime. The purpose of this study is to examine the experiences of couples as they moved through varied partner selection decisions to become engaged and/or married to each other. Capturing the couples’ voice moves beyond individual partner preferences and attraction tendencies by inquiring how individuals use these variables to make complex partner selection decisions within the context of the relationship. A qualitative approach is used and thematic analysis is employed to analyze the data. Interviews with five engaged or married couples revealed that as part of the relationship deepening process, pivotal illuminating moments allowed subconscious partner preferences and expectations to surface. Couples enter a process to discern partner and relationship preferences and expectations and use external feedback from family and friends as a checks-and-balances function. Couples can utilize this information to make more informed partner selection decisions. Educators, clergy, and mental health professionals can supplement the content in pre-marital education curriculums and enhance couple interventions.

Factors Influencing Implementation of Accrual Based International Public Sector Accounting Standards in Tanzanian Local Government Authorities

This research examined the factors influencing implementation of accrual-based International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in the Tanzanian Local Government Authorities (LGAs). The study adopted a survey design. Based on extant literature, a structured questionnaire was developed. Then a drop-and-pick method was employed to administer the survey instrument to accountants and auditors from the LGAs in Tanzania. We successfully obtained 150 useful responses and applied factor analysis to determine the factors followed by multiple regression analysis. According to factor analysis performed, 15 factors were identified as the factors influencing implementation of accrual-based IPSAS. Such factors include staff experience, understanding, and skills, in-house training necessity, involvement of professional accountants with high ethical conduct and hope for future business opportunities including attraction of development partners. The study also examined how the identified factors affect implementation of accrual-based IPSAS in the LGAs. Our findings show that staff experience, in-house training necessity, understanding and skills, involvement of professional accountants and publication of financial statements with standardized format; significantly influence implementation of accrual based IPSAS in the LGAs. Other factors like sanctions by regulatory authorities, pressure from development partners and adequate implementation policies were also reported to have significant impact. Since this research involved 7 LGAs out of 185 found in Tanzania Mainland, we recommend further studies to take into account the rest of the LGAs in Tanzania and abroad.

Establishing and Maintaining Couple Relationships as Perceived by Couples with Intellectual Disabilities: Implications for Families, Support Staff, and Policy Change

Couple relationships are central to adult lives in the general population, but less accessible to adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, little is known regarding factors that enable couple relationships among this population. In the present study, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 Israeli couples with ID. The interview protocol addressed conditions that enabled the relationship, challenges encountered in the relationship, and coping strategies employed in accordance. Thematic content analysis was conducted. According to the interviewees, conditions propelling couples with ID to engage and stay in their relationships included: partner's attractiveness, viewing the partner as a source of comfort following a crisis, and the intervention of matchmakers. Stated challenges included: difficulties arising from within the relationship and from other persons in the couples' close milieu. Coping strategies included: mutual assistance, giving space to the partner, aspiring for a lifelong relationship, and turning to support staff for assistance. Recommendations for changing non‐ID significant others' attitudes toward couples with ID and providing necessary supports are presented. Implications for policy change are provided.

Environmental-economic aspect of sustainable development of industrial enterprises of regions of Ukraine

The features of development of industrial enterprises of Ukraine are considered in the article taking into account ecological-economic aspect. The advantages and disadvantages of integrating national industry into a single ecological and economic space are considered. The ways of restoration of potential, development of industrial regions of Ukraine are offered. The basic directions of development of industrial production which, should become the basis not only of formation of budgets of different levels, investment attractiveness of national producers, but also a basis for the development of regional and state programs of sustainable development, the program of taking of economy of Ukraine to a new qualitative level are singled out. These problems are related to the improvement of the environment and its stabilization, the achievement of a balance between economic growth and the environmental situation, the creation and implementation of a system of rational use of natural resources. There is a need for a transition to intensive development, which involves finding ways to use existing resources rationally to meet the ever-increasing needs of humanity. The article also gives directions of interaction of industrial enterprises with the public sector in order to prevent negative consequences and sustainable development of industrially loaded regions. The issues of state regulation of industrial development are covered. The task of socio-economic development and the establishment of Ukraine as a high-tech state, asking into account the global experience of applying the environmental audit procedure in previous years, and to step up activities in this area in order to prevent environmental and economic crises in industrial regions. The stages of carrying out ecological audit are specified, in order to give greater economic attractiveness of industrial production of the region in the international markets and attraction of foreign partners. The stages of carrying out ecological audit are specified, in order to give greater economic attractiveness of industrial production of the region in the international markets and attraction of foreign partners. The necessity of applying a rational combination in meeting the needs of mankind and breaking the ecosystem balance is highlighted.

Does an attractive partner make you a better leader? Only if you are a male!

We integrate the research on evolutionary leadership with the evolutionary psychology of mate choice to argue that a facially attractive partner signals unobservable leadership qualities of their mate, and thus, partner's attractiveness spills over to their mate's perceived leadership. Study 1 found that while partner's attractiveness enhanced the perceived leadership of male CEOs, female CEOs' leadership was downgraded in the presence of an attractive partner. Study 2 validated that the leadership penalty for female CEOs increased when they were seen with more attractive males than with less attractive males. Study 3 found that conservative candidates that were male benefitted more from an attractive partner than their liberal counterparts but female candidates were penalized regardless of political ideology. Our findings suggest that indirect cues that emanate from the partner are critical for leadership assessment. They invoke attributions that enhance the perceived leadership of males but disapprove of females as leaders.

One of a kind: The strong and complex preference for unique treatment from romantic partners

Individuals prefer romantic partners who universally treat others well (i.e., partners who exhibit trait-level generosity) and also prefer partners who treat them uniquely. Previous work supports both preferences, yet the literature has largely ignored what happens when these preferences conflict. In the present work, we compare these two preferences in romantic relationships by pitting people's preference for trait-level generosity from their partner against their preference for unique treatment from their partner. Across 10 studies, we observe a strong, multifaceted, and somewhat selfish preference for unique treatment that often overwhelms the preference for trait-level generosity. People generally want their partner to offer them relatively better treatment than they offer to others (e.g., their partner orders a larger bouquet for their birthday than for the neighbor's birthday). However, in specific domains and situations, individuals are satisfied with receiving treatment from their partner that is the same as—or slightly worse than—the treatment their partner offers to others, so long as the treatment is unique (e.g., their partner sends everyone a text containing a special inside joke). Further, using a conjoint-analysis approach novel to studying partner selection, we find that partners who offer unique treatment are highly desired and that people are willing to make significant sacrifices in partner attractiveness to receive unique treatment. This preference also impacts how people evaluate and interact with their romantic partners and how satisfied they feel with their relationships.