Meeting Expectations
Young love on the big screen: A content analysis of romantic ideals, challenges, hookups, and long-term relationships in teen romantic drama movies
Amy Pezoldt, Marina Klimenko & Gregory Webster
Psychology of Popular Media, forthcoming
Abstract:
A content analysis of teen romantic drama movies examined potential gender differences and changes in depictions of romance, hookups, and long-term relationships over time in the American teen romantic drama genre. The 41 highest-grossing teen romantic drama movies from 1961 to 2019 were coded for the number of romantic ideals and challenges to romantic ideals verbally expressed by the main love interests, the number of depicted hookups or long-term relationships involving the teen characters, and the type of endings (positive, negative, or unclear). In addition, the main characters' age and gender were recorded and analyzed. The results showed no significant differences in any of the factors over time, which is inconsistent with generational changes in typical romantic and sexual beliefs and behaviors. Male main love interests expressed the most romantic ideal expressions, and high schoolers engaged in the most hookups. Female engagement in hookups significantly predicted negative endings in films, which reinforces the regret and shame that many young women feel after engaging in noncommitted sexual relations.
Beyond "not my type": A quantitative examination of intraminority stigma among gay men who use dating apps
Benjamin Shepherd et al.
Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, forthcoming
Abstract:
Gay men with intersecting diverse identities are at increased risk for experiencing intraminority stigma (i.e., negative attitudes or discrimination from the gay community based on a socially undervalued identity or trait). The use of dating apps is pervasive among gay men and becoming more common during the ongoing, global COVID-19 pandemic, representing a potential site for intraminority stigma. In this study, the association between online dating and experiences of stigma within the gay community was examined utilizing an international sample of 2,159 gay men through the lens of intraminority gay community stress theory. Participants reported how frequently they experienced stigma from other gay men based on age, socioeconomic status, nonconformity to popular gay culture (i.e., hobbies, beliefs, or ideologies perceived as typical of gay men), race/ethnicity, gender expression, and body size and shape. Approximately 60% of the sample used dating apps/websites every month or more frequently. More frequent dating app use was associated with more frequent experiences of intraminority stress across the constructs of age stigma, socioeconomic stigma, racial/ethnic stigma, and body stigma but not gay nonconformity stigma or gender expression stigma. More frequent dating app use was associated with more intraminority racial/ethnic stigma among gay men of color relative to White gay men and more intraminority age stigma among older gay men relative to younger gay men. Findings provide empirical and contextual evidence for multiple forms of intraminority stigma, paving the way for future intersectional research focused on the social, psychological, and physical well-being of multiply marginalized gay men.
Peer desirability and academic achievement
Adrian Mehic
Journal of Applied Econometrics, forthcoming
Abstract:
Using the random assignment of university engineering students to peer groups during introductory freshmen weeks, this paper studies how a student's parental income and facial attractiveness affect the grade outcomes of peers. The results show that exposure to highly desirable peers with respect to socioeconomic background and beauty improves grades. The results operate chiefly through a direct spillover channel and also through an indirect marriage market channel, through which exposure to high-desirability peers improves well-being. A field experiment suggests that the marriage market mechanism is likely to be limited to students not currently in a romantic relationship.
Femcel Discussions of Sex, Frustration, Power, and Revenge
Hannah Rae Evans & Adam Lankford
Archives of Sexual Behavior, March 2024, Pages 917-930
Abstract:
Although male incels have received a great deal of scholarly attention in recent years, there has been almost no research on femcels (involuntarily celibate women). After collecting data from more than 24,000 femcel posts, we drew from a recently developed sexual frustration theory and conducted qualitative analyses of approximately 1200. Overall, our findings suggest that (1) femcels struggled with multiple types of sexual frustration; (2) they frequently discussed the gender dynamics of both sex and power; (3) they were more interested in their own frustrations than men's frustrations; and (4) despite some notable exceptions, they exhibited less support for aggression, violence, and crime than what has been reported about male incels. Although some femcels referenced their anger, hatred, or desires for revenge, this antipathy may have been rooted in their concerns about how to find a suitable intimate partner while avoiding the threat women often face from violent men. Despite this challenge, most femcels who wanted to enhance their situation or increase their power sought to do so through legal means (e.g., self-improvement, group mobilization, or challenging the patriarchy) and did not express violent intent. Further research on femcels, and the evidence-based strategies that could help them, would be a significant contribution to society.
Love me, because I rely on you: Dependency-oriented help-seeking as a strategy for human mating
Fei Teng et al.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, forthcoming
Abstract:
Existing research has suggested a predominantly negative view of dependency-oriented help. In contrast, the current research aims to test the positive function of dependency-oriented help in intimate relationships where interpersonal dependency is valued. We hypothesized that dependency-oriented help-seeking could function in communicating liking and romantic interests and, therefore, can be instrumental in attracting mates. Our hypothesis was confirmed across nine studies (N = 2,535). For help-seekers, a mate-seeking motivation could positively predict (Study 1) and lead to (Studies 2A-4) dependency-oriented help-seeking behavior tendencies (Studies 1-2B) and actual behavior (Studies 3 and 4). For help-providers, after activating a mating goal, imagining (Studies 5A and 5B) and actually receiving (Study 6) dependency-oriented (vs. autonomy-oriented) help-seeking requests from a potential mate increased help-providers' romantic interests in that mate. Study 7 further showed the function of dependency-oriented help from the perspective of romantic competitors. As such, people in romantic relationships were more likely to see a potential competitor as a mate poacher when this person asked for dependency-oriented help from their partner. Theoretical and practical implications have been discussed.
Personality and Well-Being Across and Within Relationship Status
Elaine Hoan & Geoff MacDonald
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, forthcoming
Abstract:
Trends of increasing singlehood call for understanding of well-being correlates across and within relationship status. While personality is a major predictor of well-being, descriptive trait profiles of singles have not been developed. In the present research (N = 1,811; 53% men; Mage = 29), single and partnered individuals completed measures of personality and well-being, including life, relationship status, and sexual satisfaction. Results revealed effects whereby single individuals were lower in extraversion and conscientiousness but higher in neuroticism. Additional facet analyses showed that singles were lower across all extraversion facets, but specifically lower in productiveness (conscientiousness facet) and higher in depression (neuroticism facet). Largely, personality was associated with well-being similarly for single and partnered people. Furthermore, relationship status accounted for variance in well-being above and beyond personality traits. Our results suggest individual differences in personality could play an important role in understanding well-being's link with relationship status.