Dating and Mating

The Social Psychology of Attraction and Romantic Relationships

Madeleine A. Fugère Ph.D.

Can Romantic Relationship Distress Cause Depression?

Identifying key risk factors for depression can help prevent it.

How Men’s and Women’s Affairs Are Similar and Different

Intriguing gender differences in behavior and intimacy both during and after affairs.

Suspected Infidelity May Impair Mental and Physical Well-Being

Individuals who more strongly suspect a partner's infidelity report more feelings of depression, more physical health symptoms, and more risky health behaviors.

The Consequences of Keeping Romantic and Sexual Secrets

Secrets can impair self-regard, feelings of authenticity, and relationships.

The Relationship Consequences of a Partner's Unmet Sexual Ideals

Unmet sexual ideals, the potential consequences for long-term relationships, and the one quality which could ameliorate these effects.

3 Research-Based Reasons to Take a Chance on Love

What prevents you from exploring a new romantic connection? Consider these research-based reasons to abandon fear and take a chance on love.

The Strongest Drivers of Sexual Desire in Relationships

Which factors are and are not reliably associated with feelings of sexual desire? New research has some answers.

What Really Makes Us Decide to Stay with a Partner or Walk Away

We may not anticipate the reasons that ultimately influence our decisions.

Family-of-Origin Conflict Is Linked to Worse Marital Quality

Dysfunctional responses to conflict observed in our families may predispose us to engage in those same negative conflict behaviors and to disrupt our current relationships.

Sex Inspires Dishonesty in Both Men and Women

New research shows that when primed with sexual stimuli, both men and women lie to potential new partners in order to make themselves seem more similar and more desirable.

When You’re Most Likely to Long for Sex With Your Ex

Loneliness, social isolation, or an unfulfilling relationship may make us more likely to feel sexual nostalgia for our past relationship partners.

The Strongest Predictors of Romantic Relationship Quality

New research suggests that relationship characteristics are more important than either an individual’s or their partner’s traits when it comes to predicting relationship quality.

Mismatching in Sexual Desire Matters Less Than You Think

New research suggests that couples' overall levels of sexual desire have a greater impact on their relationship and sexual satisfaction than matching one another in sexual desire.

Women’s Feelings Change Based on Partner Sexual Desirability

Ovulatory shifts prompt changes in women’s perceptions of their relationship quality, depending in large part on the sexual desirability of their male partners.

This Quality May Help Protect Your Relationship From COVID-19 Stress

A new study highlights the potential role of partner responsiveness.

Love Activates Similar Brain Structures for Humans and Dogs

Dogs’ responses to familiar humans as well as humans’ responses to their romantic partners involve activation in the caudate nucleus, an area of the brain signaling rewards.

Don’t Underestimate Your Psychological Immune System

Your psychological immune system has a powerful influence over your emotional well-being.

How a High Sex Drive Works Differently in Men and Women

Women's sex drives differ from men's in three important ways.

Two Factors Explain the Misperception of Sexual Interest

New research suggests that projection of one’s own sexual interest, and one's sociosexual orientation, explain why men overestimate and women underestimate sexual interest.

Should You Lower Your Standards or Maintain Your Ideals?

If you are searching for a relationship partner, or currently in a relationship, is it in your best interest to maintain high standards or to relax your ideals?

The Surprising Ways Feminism Helps to Improve Your Sex Life

Feminism promotes a more positive body image, more positive attitudes towards sex, and more satisfying sexual relationships.

The Curious Ways Dating Apps Make It Harder to Find Love

Dating apps are the most common way for couples to meet in the U.S. Although using dating apps may make it easier to meet new partners, they may also make it harder to find love.

Why One Partner's Sexual Satifaction Is Much More Important Than the Other's

It is natural to assume that both partners' sexual experiences strongly impact relationship duration and satisfaction. However, research on sexual experience suggests otherwise.

Why Marital Satisfaction Is Closely Linked to Women’s Sexual Desire

New research shows that declines in women's sexual desire over time predicts declining marital satisfaction for both members of a couple.

Power Is Both Good and Bad for Our Sexual Relationships

Power is strongly associated with sex and can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on our relationships.

What Draws Us Together Can Also Tear Us Apart

Some of the same factors associated with beginning a relationship may also have a role in ending one.

3 Reasons Why Women May Choose the Wrong Mate

It may be useful for women to recognize when they are attracted to men who are unlikely to remain in long-lasting partnerships.

How Your Unconscious Mind Affects Your Romantic Relationship

Unconscious forces shape your long-term romantic relationship in some very surprising ways.

Are You in This Relationship for the Long Term?

At the start of a relationship, it is difficult to tell what path a couple will follow—but some factors can help determine whether the connection will last.

Why We Can't Predict Who We'll Fall For

Have you ever found yourself falling for someone surprising? Learn the good reasons why we can't predict who we will fall for.

  • Previous
  • Page 1 (current)
  • Next