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The evolved psychological mechanisms underlying relationship maintenance are ancient, but people navigate their relationships in a modern world.

  

 

My research utilizes longitudinal, dyadic, and experimental methods to examine how fundamental relationship motives and their underlying individual differences function in modern society. Additionally, I examine specific sources of evolutionary mismatch (e.g., hormonal contraceptives) and their consequences for long-term relationships.

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Fundamental Relationship Motives & their Implications for Relationships

 

One core pillar of my research examines how relationship outcomes--like satisfaction and divorce--are associated with individual differences in fundamental relationship motives. For example, I have found that people's motivations to pursue casual sex (i.e., their sociosexuality) predicts long-term marital satisfaction and dissolution. Additionally, I have shown that how people make difficult decisions between choice alternatives (i.e., their tendencies to maximize vs. satisfice) play a role in how much their partners' traits (e.g., physical attractiveness) are associated with their relationship satisfaction.

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Specific Sources of Evolutionary Mismatch

 

Some novel features of the modern environment are mismatched to, and thus may interfere with, evolved psychological processes that promote relationship maintenance. For example, I have shown that longitudinal changes in hormonal contraceptives may interfere with sexual satisfaction, which promotes pair-bond maintenance. Additionally, I have found that men whose partners use hormonal contraceptives are less likely to respond to perceived relationship threats (e.g., low partner commitment) with functional mate-guarding behaviors. I am also interested in how people manage the threat of the increased availability of alternative partners (and, relatedly, increased threat of romantic rivals) that is characteristic of today's interconnected and population-dense society.

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