Are you coming on to me? Accuracy and bias in couples' perceptions of sexual advances

Three preregistered studies examined how romantic partners make sexual advances, and how accurately these behaviours are perceived. Study 1 generated a list of 29 sexual advance behaviours common in romantic relationships. Studies 2a and 2b tested whether partners were able to track the pattern of their partner’s advances, if they over- or underestimated the extent to which their partner used those behaviours, whether this tracking accuracy and bias were moderated by individual differences, and whether tracking accuracy and bias predicted relational outcomes. Results revealed strong evidence for tracking accuracy, and mixed results for bias. In addition, there was strong evidence that gender and average frequency of sexual initiation and rejection moderate tracking accuracy and bias, and mixed evidence was found for the importance of attachment orientation. Finally, biased and accurate sexual advance perceptions were associated with love and sexual satisfaction. Implications for theory and relationship dynamics are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Dobson, Kiersten

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Campbell, Lorne

• Sexual advances
• tracking accuracy
• directional bias
• romantic relationships

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/33822

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/33822