In Western societies, women are considered more adept than men at expressing love in romantic rel... more In Western societies, women are considered more adept than men at expressing love in romantic relationships. Although scholars have argued that this view of love gives short shrift to men’s ways of showing love (e.g., Cancian, 1986; Noller, 1996), the widely embraced premise that men and women “love differently” has rarely been examined empirically. Using data collected at four time points over 13 years of marriage, the authors examined whether love is associated with different behaviors for husbands and wives. Multilevel analyses revealed that, counter to theoretical expectations, both genders were equally likely to show love through affection. But whereas wives expressed love by enacting fewer negative or antagonistic behaviors, husbands showed love by initiating sex, sharing leisure activities, and doing household work together with their wives. Overall, the findings indicate that men and women show their love in more nuanced ways than cultural stereotypes suggest.
This study contributes to the literature on compatibility in courtship by seeking to identify emp... more This study contributes to the literature on compatibility in courtship by seeking to identify empirical links between social homogamy, similarity in leisure interests and role performance preferences, and the dynamics of premarital relationships. Data were ...
A longitudinal study of newlyweds explored the impact of parenthood on marriages. Couples who bec... more A longitudinal study of newlyweds explored the impact of parenthood on marriages. Couples who became parents during the first year of marriage were compared with couples who remained childless during the year. Data were collected about two months after the couples' weddings and again about a year later. Data concerning the behavioral properties of marriage (e.g., amount of companionship, sex roles) were gathered by phone interviews; data pertaining to the partners' satisfaction were obtained during face-to-face interviews. The results confirmed earlier research in showing that the transition to parenthood affects companionship and marital role patterns, but no evidence was found to support the idea that parenthood is associated with a decline in the partners' evaluations of one another (love) or their marriage (marital satisfaction). Both the parent and nonparent groups showed significant declines in love and satisfaction. Moreover, the properties of the marriages and the evaluations by the partners of one another were equally stable during the year for the two groups. The data show that many of the changes attributed to parenthood also occur among nonparents and thus indicate the importance of using comparison groups of nonparents in research on the transition to parenthood.
Summary Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that physically attractive American fem... more Summary Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that physically attractive American females are more assertive than physically unattractive females. Highly physically attractive and unattractive females were compared with regard to their response to ...
Most models of marital choice are attempts to explain choices within the field of available eligi... more Most models of marital choice are attempts to explain choices within the field of available eligibles. The essence of compatibility testing is that people select their mates by evaluating the match between psychological characteristics after sorting the available field os the basis of social characteristics. A compatibility model seems to require that either perceived compatibility in itself increases commitment, or that actual compatibility provides a higher proportion of rewarding interactions and thus increases commitment. However, the compatibility testing models require more dating experience than most people have. Data from the Pennsylvania State University PAIR Project, a longitudinal study of 168 newlywed couples, supports this argument. Couples were interviewed regarding their dating history for the 5 years prior to dating their spouse exclusively. Results showed husbands reported an average of 2.6, and wives reported an average of 2.21 more-than-casual dating partners other than the spouse. Over half of the subjects had two or fewer regular dating partners other than the spouse, compared to the 11 dating partners suggested by the compatibility testing model. Results cast doubt on the image of compatibility testing as involving a wide search through a field of available eligibles. (JAC) *
We examined the interplay between husbands' and wives' positive and negative nonsexual in... more We examined the interplay between husbands' and wives' positive and negative nonsexual interpersonal behaviors, frequency of sexual intercourse, sexual satisfaction, and feelings of marital satisfaction. To do this, we conducted an in-depth face-to-face interview and completed a series of telephone diaries with 105 couples during their second, third, and fourteenth years of marriage. Consistent with the argument that women's sexual response is tied to intimacy (Basson, 2000), multilevel analyses revealed that husbands' positive interpersonal behaviors directed toward their wives-but not wives' positivity nor spouses' negative behaviors (regardless of gender)-predicted the frequency with which couples engaged in intercourse. The frequency of sexual intercourse and interpersonal negativity predicted both husbands' and wives' sexual satisfaction; wives' positive behaviors were also tied to husbands' sexual satisfaction. When spouses' interper...
This paper reviews a series of studies addressing the question of whether loss of love and affect... more This paper reviews a series of studies addressing the question of whether loss of love and affection early in marriage and long-term marital instability have roots in couples' premarital relationships. The findings summarized in this paper suggest that loss of love and affection early in marriage and later marital instability can be traced back to couples' courtship experiences; findings also suggest that the courtship dynamics of couples who are likely to divorce early in marriage are different from those who are likely to divorce later in marriage. Also, compared to couples who remained stably married over a period of 13 years, couples who divorced had courtships characterized by more extremes regarding the passion and pace of their courtship. Implications of the findings for premarital education are presented.
Although most mate selection research has focused on what people want in a marriage partner, this... more Although most mate selection research has focused on what people want in a marriage partner, this research focuses on what people think they can get. Using survey data from a large, representative sample of unmarried individuals, this study revealed that people who believed they possessed fewer qualities that are valued in the mating marketplace and who reported meeting lower quality potential mates felt less confident about their chances of securing an acceptable partner to marry; these associations were no weaker for people who held lower versus higher standards for a mate. Consistent with predictions, individuals' perceptions of the desirability of the people in their mating pools partially mediated the link between their self-reported market value and their confidence about marrying. The contemporary retreat from marriage in the United States has given rise to an interesting paradox. Despite declines in marriage rates over the last few decades (Schoen & Standish, 2001), most American singles continue to value marriage and to report that they would like to marry someday (Lichter, Batson, & Brown, 2004; Thornton & Young-DeMarco, 2001). Of the handful of theories that have been posited to account for this disparity between people's marital aspirations and
Abstract: Cancian (1986) argued that men and women have been socialized to show love in different... more Abstract: Cancian (1986) argued that men and women have been socialized to show love in different ways, with women showing love by expresing positive emotions directly and men by doing activities together, helping out with domestic chores, and showing sexual interest ...
The aim of this study was to test the predictions derived from the equity theory, social exchange... more The aim of this study was to test the predictions derived from the equity theory, social exchange principle and research dealing with marital climate about the relationship between equity in the ways of showing love between partners and marital satisfaction. The sample consisted of 302 Croatian married couples of different age (20-82 years) and from various urban/rural backgrounds. Marriage length varied between one month and 57 years. Along with asking about marital satisfaction, we administered The Ways of Showing Love Scale. Equity was assessed as a similarity between how much (in total and in every of the six specific ways) an individual shows love to his/ her partner and his/her perception of how his/her partner shows love to him/her. According to equity theory, individuals who show and perceive a similar amount of love, no matter whether this amount is big or small, should be more satisfied with their relationship. Individuals who are underbenefited should be less satisfied, while individuals who are overbenefited should be somewhere in the middle. Results did not confirm this hypothesis. We found that both men and women with a high score on both showing and perceiving love are most satisfied with their marriage. Underbenefited and overbenefited individuals do not differ, and have somewhat lesser scores on marital satisfaction. Those with a low score on both showing and perceiving love are the least satisfied. The results suggest the importance of positive socioemotional climate for marital satisfaction.
In Western societies, women are considered more adept than men at expressing love in romantic rel... more In Western societies, women are considered more adept than men at expressing love in romantic relationships. Although scholars have argued that this view of love gives short shrift to men’s ways of showing love (e.g., Cancian, 1986; Noller, 1996), the widely embraced premise that men and women “love differently” has rarely been examined empirically. Using data collected at four time points over 13 years of marriage, the authors examined whether love is associated with different behaviors for husbands and wives. Multilevel analyses revealed that, counter to theoretical expectations, both genders were equally likely to show love through affection. But whereas wives expressed love by enacting fewer negative or antagonistic behaviors, husbands showed love by initiating sex, sharing leisure activities, and doing household work together with their wives. Overall, the findings indicate that men and women show their love in more nuanced ways than cultural stereotypes suggest.
This study contributes to the literature on compatibility in courtship by seeking to identify emp... more This study contributes to the literature on compatibility in courtship by seeking to identify empirical links between social homogamy, similarity in leisure interests and role performance preferences, and the dynamics of premarital relationships. Data were ...
A longitudinal study of newlyweds explored the impact of parenthood on marriages. Couples who bec... more A longitudinal study of newlyweds explored the impact of parenthood on marriages. Couples who became parents during the first year of marriage were compared with couples who remained childless during the year. Data were collected about two months after the couples' weddings and again about a year later. Data concerning the behavioral properties of marriage (e.g., amount of companionship, sex roles) were gathered by phone interviews; data pertaining to the partners' satisfaction were obtained during face-to-face interviews. The results confirmed earlier research in showing that the transition to parenthood affects companionship and marital role patterns, but no evidence was found to support the idea that parenthood is associated with a decline in the partners' evaluations of one another (love) or their marriage (marital satisfaction). Both the parent and nonparent groups showed significant declines in love and satisfaction. Moreover, the properties of the marriages and the evaluations by the partners of one another were equally stable during the year for the two groups. The data show that many of the changes attributed to parenthood also occur among nonparents and thus indicate the importance of using comparison groups of nonparents in research on the transition to parenthood.
Summary Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that physically attractive American fem... more Summary Two studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that physically attractive American females are more assertive than physically unattractive females. Highly physically attractive and unattractive females were compared with regard to their response to ...
Most models of marital choice are attempts to explain choices within the field of available eligi... more Most models of marital choice are attempts to explain choices within the field of available eligibles. The essence of compatibility testing is that people select their mates by evaluating the match between psychological characteristics after sorting the available field os the basis of social characteristics. A compatibility model seems to require that either perceived compatibility in itself increases commitment, or that actual compatibility provides a higher proportion of rewarding interactions and thus increases commitment. However, the compatibility testing models require more dating experience than most people have. Data from the Pennsylvania State University PAIR Project, a longitudinal study of 168 newlywed couples, supports this argument. Couples were interviewed regarding their dating history for the 5 years prior to dating their spouse exclusively. Results showed husbands reported an average of 2.6, and wives reported an average of 2.21 more-than-casual dating partners other than the spouse. Over half of the subjects had two or fewer regular dating partners other than the spouse, compared to the 11 dating partners suggested by the compatibility testing model. Results cast doubt on the image of compatibility testing as involving a wide search through a field of available eligibles. (JAC) *
We examined the interplay between husbands' and wives' positive and negative nonsexual in... more We examined the interplay between husbands' and wives' positive and negative nonsexual interpersonal behaviors, frequency of sexual intercourse, sexual satisfaction, and feelings of marital satisfaction. To do this, we conducted an in-depth face-to-face interview and completed a series of telephone diaries with 105 couples during their second, third, and fourteenth years of marriage. Consistent with the argument that women's sexual response is tied to intimacy (Basson, 2000), multilevel analyses revealed that husbands' positive interpersonal behaviors directed toward their wives-but not wives' positivity nor spouses' negative behaviors (regardless of gender)-predicted the frequency with which couples engaged in intercourse. The frequency of sexual intercourse and interpersonal negativity predicted both husbands' and wives' sexual satisfaction; wives' positive behaviors were also tied to husbands' sexual satisfaction. When spouses' interper...
This paper reviews a series of studies addressing the question of whether loss of love and affect... more This paper reviews a series of studies addressing the question of whether loss of love and affection early in marriage and long-term marital instability have roots in couples' premarital relationships. The findings summarized in this paper suggest that loss of love and affection early in marriage and later marital instability can be traced back to couples' courtship experiences; findings also suggest that the courtship dynamics of couples who are likely to divorce early in marriage are different from those who are likely to divorce later in marriage. Also, compared to couples who remained stably married over a period of 13 years, couples who divorced had courtships characterized by more extremes regarding the passion and pace of their courtship. Implications of the findings for premarital education are presented.
Although most mate selection research has focused on what people want in a marriage partner, this... more Although most mate selection research has focused on what people want in a marriage partner, this research focuses on what people think they can get. Using survey data from a large, representative sample of unmarried individuals, this study revealed that people who believed they possessed fewer qualities that are valued in the mating marketplace and who reported meeting lower quality potential mates felt less confident about their chances of securing an acceptable partner to marry; these associations were no weaker for people who held lower versus higher standards for a mate. Consistent with predictions, individuals' perceptions of the desirability of the people in their mating pools partially mediated the link between their self-reported market value and their confidence about marrying. The contemporary retreat from marriage in the United States has given rise to an interesting paradox. Despite declines in marriage rates over the last few decades (Schoen & Standish, 2001), most American singles continue to value marriage and to report that they would like to marry someday (Lichter, Batson, & Brown, 2004; Thornton & Young-DeMarco, 2001). Of the handful of theories that have been posited to account for this disparity between people's marital aspirations and
Abstract: Cancian (1986) argued that men and women have been socialized to show love in different... more Abstract: Cancian (1986) argued that men and women have been socialized to show love in different ways, with women showing love by expresing positive emotions directly and men by doing activities together, helping out with domestic chores, and showing sexual interest ...
The aim of this study was to test the predictions derived from the equity theory, social exchange... more The aim of this study was to test the predictions derived from the equity theory, social exchange principle and research dealing with marital climate about the relationship between equity in the ways of showing love between partners and marital satisfaction. The sample consisted of 302 Croatian married couples of different age (20-82 years) and from various urban/rural backgrounds. Marriage length varied between one month and 57 years. Along with asking about marital satisfaction, we administered The Ways of Showing Love Scale. Equity was assessed as a similarity between how much (in total and in every of the six specific ways) an individual shows love to his/ her partner and his/her perception of how his/her partner shows love to him/her. According to equity theory, individuals who show and perceive a similar amount of love, no matter whether this amount is big or small, should be more satisfied with their relationship. Individuals who are underbenefited should be less satisfied, while individuals who are overbenefited should be somewhere in the middle. Results did not confirm this hypothesis. We found that both men and women with a high score on both showing and perceiving love are most satisfied with their marriage. Underbenefited and overbenefited individuals do not differ, and have somewhat lesser scores on marital satisfaction. Those with a low score on both showing and perceiving love are the least satisfied. The results suggest the importance of positive socioemotional climate for marital satisfaction.
Uploads
Papers by Ted Huston