bims-chumac 2022-06-12 papers

Issue of 2022–06–12
four papers selected by
Thomas Krichel, Open Library Society

Arch Sex Behav. 2022 Jun 06.

Dominance or Integration? Influence of Sexual Dimorphism and Clothing Color on Judgments of Male and Female Targets' Attractiveness, Warmth, and Competence.

Fangfang Wen, Yalan Qiao, Bin Zuo, Hanxue Ye, Yu Ding, Qi Wang, Shuhan Ma.

The face is an important source of information in social interactions. Prior studies exploring the mechanism of face perception were consistent with either dominance or integration theory. Studies have shown that both sexually dimorphic features and background cues play essential roles in the formation of impressions and the perception of facial attractiveness. In this study, we conducted two experiments to examine 539 participants' appraisal of attractiveness, warmth, and competence of the target faces of masculine and feminine men and women dressed in red, blue, or white. The results showed that: (1) feminized male/female faces were considered to have a higher degree of attractiveness, warmth, and competence, (2) people rated feminine faces wearing red higher in terms of attractiveness perception, while there was no significant effect of red on attractiveness perception of masculine faces, (3) when evaluating the warmth of targets, the promotion effect of red was found for feminine faces but not for masculine faces. This study, conducted in a pathogen disgust environment, provides direct evidence to support the integration theory over the dominance theory. Feminized red preference found in this study matches Chinese collectivism and the red cultural heritage, which has an important value for people's daily impression management and consumption decisions.

Keywords: Clothing color; Facial attractiveness; Sexual dimorphism; The Big Two model of social cognition

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02283-3

Psychol Assess. 2022 Jun 09.

The gray areas of romance: A measure of presumptuous romantic intentions.

Timothy J Valshtein, Peter M Gollwitzer, Gabriele Oettingen.

To capture the attention of a romantic partner requires thoughtful selection of effective pursuit strategies. Sometimes, these strategies err on the side of caution; in other instances, pursuers can take a bolder approach to their courtship endeavors. In the present research, we developed a measure capturing the degree to which a romantic pursuer intends to take a presumptuous course of action. Across five studies (Ntotal = 2,137), we validated a 13-item self-report measure: the presumptuous romantic intentions (PRI) scale. First, we used a training set to refine item content and explore factor structures. Then, using a validation set, we confirmed a bifactor solution with one general and three auxiliary factors. We then observed test-retest reliability over periods of 3 and 4 weeks, found strict measurement invariance across both relationship status (single and partnered individuals) and across gender (women and men). We also found that PRI predicted actual presumptuous romantic behavior over the subsequent month. Finally, we established a pattern of convergent and discriminant associations with relationship measures, socioemotional outcomes, executive function, dark personality traits and more. This new measure may be of interest to researchers studying intimate relationships, partner violence, and the gray area in between. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001145

J Marriage Fam. 2022 Jun;84(3): 860-878

Relationship Quality in Midlife: A Comparison of Dating, Living Apart Together, Cohabitation, and Marriage.

Susan L Brown, Wendy D Manning, Huijing Wu.

Objective: This study compared the relationship quality of U.S. midlife adults in dating, living apart together (LAT) relationships, cohabitation, and marriage.
Background: Unmarried partnerships are gaining ground in midlife but how these partnerships compare to each other and to marriage is unclear. From an incomplete institutionalization perspective, those in unmarried relationships, especially LAT relationships but also cohabitations, face challenges due to unclear relationship norms and expectations which may eventuate in poorer relationship quality than that of the married. Alternatively, cohabitation and, by extension, LAT relationships, offer flexibility and autonomy and thus may function as an alternative to marriage marked by comparable relationship quality.
Method: Data were drawn from the 2013 Families and Relationships Survey, a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults. The analytic sample was composed of adults aged 50-65 in a partnership (N=2,166). Multivariable models compared the associations between relationship type (dating, LAT, cohabiting, and married) and relationship quality (happiness, support, commitment, disagreement, and instability).
Results: The incomplete institutionalization perspective was supported for LATs, who tended to report poorer relationship quality than marrieds. For cohabitors, this perspective received mixed support. Although cohabitors reported less happiness and commitment than marrieds, which aligned with the incomplete institutionalization perspective, the groups did not differ on relationship support, disagreement, or instability, supporting the cohabitation as an alternative to marriage perspective. Dating, LAT and cohabiting relationships were remarkably alike.
Conclusion: This study has implications for understanding the shifting landscape of relationships in midlife which in turn may shape individual health and well-being.

Keywords: family structure; gerontology; marital quality; relationships; well-being

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12813

Body Image. 2022 Jun 04. pii: S1740-1445(22)00081-X. [Epub ahead of print]42 84-97

Fat, sexy, and human? Perceptions of plus-size sexualized women and dehumanization.

Sharla D Biefeld, Christia Spears Brown.

Past research suggests that sexualized women are dehumanized and viewing sexualized images negatively impacts viewers' body image; however, plus-size women are mostly absent from this research. The current studies investigate how sexualization impacts dehumanization of plus-size women and participants' body image. In Study 1 (N = 277, Mage = 19.52, SD =1.77) men and women viewed images of plus-size and thin sexualized and non-sexualized women and rated the women on traits linked to dehumanization. Results indicated that sexualized thin targets were perceived as less human than plus-size sexualized and non-sexualized targets. Plus-size sexualized targets were also perceived as less human than plus-size non-sexualized targets. In Study 2 (N = 500, Mage = 18.98, SD = 1.51) we investigated the impact of viewing sexualized images on participants' feelings about their own body. Results indicated that sexualization, but not body size, impacted women's objectified body consciousness. Men's body esteem was impacted by the body size of the image. Perceived race of the image also impacted feelings of body control for both men and women. Taken together these results highlight that sexualization, at any body size, impacts women's views about themselves and sexualized women, at any body size, are dehumanized.

Keywords: Body image; Dehumanization; Objectification; Plus-size; Sexualization; Weight bias

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.05.002