bims-chumac 2020-11-08 papers

Issue of 2020–11–08
three papers selected by
Jay Dixit, Storytelling.NYC

Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2020 Nov 05. 146167220966903

The Reasons People Think About Staying and Leaving Their Romantic Relationships: A Mixed-Method Analysis.

Across three studies (total N = 993) with diverse methodologies (i.e., experimental studies, longitudinal in vivo sampling), we found that there are distinct reasons why individuals believe their romantic relationship will become, or did become, less committed, and reasons why individuals believe their relationships will become, or became, more committed. Whereas the strongest endorsed reasons to stay (e.g., satisfaction) are the same as the strongest endorsed reasons to leave (e.g., dissatisfaction), there are many constructs that are more strongly endorsed as either leave reasons (e.g., quality of alternatives) or stay reasons (e.g., love). These reasons are important glimpses into the process that occurs when someone is deciding whether to stay or leave a relationship, and results empirically confirm a core tenet of Interdependence Theory that until now has been only theoretical (i.e., some outcomes contribute more motivation to staying in the current relationship, whereas others contribute more motivation to leaving).

Keywords: Interdependence Theory; commitment; decision-making; relationship breakup; romantic relationships

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167220966903

Evol Psychol. 2020 Oct-Dec;18(4):18(4): 1474704920961728

I Can Wear a Beard, but you Should Shave…Preferences for Men's Facial Hair From the Perspective of Both Sexes.

Łukasz Jach, Marcin Moroń.

Researchers have found that men's facial hair may have certain signaling functions connected with intrasexual competition and intersexual attractiveness. The interesting issue is whether men's and women's preferences for men's facial hair may be considered a reflection of their intuitive knowledge about these functions. The aim of the presented studies was to analyze women's and men's preferences regarding men's facial hair using questions with a dichotomous answer format (Study 1 and Study 2) and pictorial stimuli (Study 2). In both studies, women were asked to indicate their preferences for men's facial hair. Men were asked to report preferences for facial hair in themselves and in other men, as well as to report their actual appearance of facial hair. The results showed that women's preferences for men's facial hair were ambiguous, while men preferred facial hair for themselves and had a lower inclination to prefer facial hair in other men. It suggests that men may be aware of some aspects of signaling functions of facial hair, especially these connected with intrasexual competition.

Keywords: beard; facial attractiveness; facial hair; intersexual attractiveness; intrasexual competition; signaling functions

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1474704920961728

Front Psychol. 2020 ;11 2178

Editorial: The Science of Pair-Bonding and Future Directions.

Xiaomeng Xu, Bianca P Acevedo.

Keywords: attachment; close relationships; dating; evolutionary psychology; marriage; pair bonding; romantic relationships

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02178