112 posts · 65,049 views
Relationship research in real time. Insights into the dynamics of interpersonal relationships brought to you by the scientists at eHarmony Labs. Read reviews on recent findings and discover what is new in the field of relationship science.
eHarmony Labs
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- January 22, 2009
- 01:00 PM
- 1,548 views
Sex and the performance of desire
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Research acknowledges having a pleasurable sex life is important for relationship satisfaction (Michael, et al, 1994). Find out how and why couples engage in emotional work to bring their actual sexual feelings in line with how they think they should be feeling about sex.... Read more »
Sinikka Elliott, & Debra Umberson. (2008) The Performance of Desire: Gender and Sexual Negotiation in Long-Term Marriages. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70(2), 391-406. DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2008.00489.x
- July 10, 2009
- 06:35 PM
- 1,294 views
Where Has All the Passion Gone? An Old Question with a New Answer.
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Have you ever thought about your relationship and wondered, “Where has all the passion gone?” Like many of you, relationship scientists have been stumped for quite a while. However, recent evidence from a series of interesting studies suggests that an answer is within reach of all of us, scientists and curious partners alike.... Read more »
Eastwick, P., & Finkel, E. (2008) The attachment system in fledgling relationships: An activating role for attachment anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95(3), 628-647. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.95.3.628
- November 19, 2009
- 11:53 AM
- 1,263 views
Stressed out? High cholesterol? Try kissing!
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Kissing is a great way to bond and show affection to your partner, but it also has some physical and health benefits you may not know about. Find out more.... Read more »
Coan, J., Schaefer, H., & Davidson, R. (2006) Lending a Hand: Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat. Psychological Science, 17(12), 1032-1039. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01832.x
Floyd, K., Boren, J., Hannawa, A., Hesse, C., McEwan, B., & Veksler, A. (2009) Kissing in Marital and Cohabiting Relationships: Effects on Blood Lipids, Stress, and Relationship Satisfaction. Western Journal of Communication, 73(2), 113-133. DOI: 10.1080/10570310902856071
- August 21, 2008
- 01:00 PM
- 1,170 views
Do nice guys really finish last?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
The nice guy stereotype argues that women often say they wish to date kind, sensitive men, but in reality, still choose to date jerks over nice guys. Is the stereotype true?... Read more »
D Buss, & M Barnes. (1986) Preferences in human mate selection. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50(3), 559-570.
Geoffrey Urbaniak, & Peter R Kilmann. (2006) Niceness and Dating Success: A Further Test of the Nice Guy Stereotype. Sex Roles, 55(3-4), 209-224. DOI: 10.1007/s11199-006-9075-2
- April 29, 2011
- 11:50 AM
- 1,170 views
Read this before saying “I love you”
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Who is more likely to say “I love you” first – men or women? A when is the appropriate time to say it? Learn more about this recent research, and find out how your gender, relationship goals, and sexual activity influence your reactions to declarations of love. ... Read more »
Ackerman, J., Griskevicius, V., & Li, N. (2011) Let's get serious: Communicating commitment in romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/a0022412
- April 16, 2010
- 02:00 PM
- 1,140 views
How to choose a good profile picture
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Recent research may help you decide on the best photo to post. Learn more. ... Read more »
Hancock, J., & Toma, C. (2009) Putting Your Best Face Forward: The Accuracy of Online Dating Photographs. Journal of Communication, 59(2), 367-386. DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-2466.2009.01420.x
- August 29, 2008
- 06:40 PM
- 1,129 views
Sociopolitical climate affects dating preferences
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Did you know that the politics and the economy can influence who you are attracted to? A recent study explains why the sociopolitical environment may be affecting your love life.... Read more »
Grace Lau, Aaron C Kay, & Steven J Spencer. (2008) Loving Those Who Justify Inequality: The Effects of System Threat on Attraction to Women Who Embody Benevolent Sexist Ideals. Psychological Science, 19(1), 20-21. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02040.x
- May 13, 2011
- 07:52 PM
- 1,057 views
Creating Closeness on a First Date
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Research shows that there are things you can do to enhance closeness with someone new. It’s as easy as knowing which questions to ask and what conversations to have. Find out what to say on your next date.... Read more »
Aron, A., Melinat, E., Aron, E., Vallone, R., & Bator, R. (1997) The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 23(4), 363-377. DOI: 10.1177/0146167297234003
Slatcher, R. (2010) When Harry and Sally met Dick and Jane: Creating closeness between couples. Personal Relationships, 17(2), 279-297. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01276.x
- April 22, 2011
- 07:24 PM
- 1,054 views
I am a Success Story (and you can be too!)
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Read on to discover how losing focus can help you to find what you’re looking for. ... Read more »
Smith, Matthew D., Richard Wiseman, Peter Harris, and Richard Joiner. (1996) On being lucky: the psychology and parapsychology of luck. European Journal of Parapsychology, 35-43. info:/
- May 27, 2011
- 06:49 PM
- 1,037 views
Imitation is good for your relationships
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Imitation is more than the sincerest form of flattery. Find out how imitating words and facial expressions improves your relationships. ... Read more »
Chartrand TL, & Bargh JA. (1999) The chameleon effect: the perception-behavior link and social interaction. Journal of personality and social psychology, 76(6), 893-910. PMID: 10402679
Ireland, M., & Pennebaker, J. (2010) Language style matching in writing: Synchrony in essays, correspondence, and poetry. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 99(3), 549-571. DOI: 10.1037/a0020386
Neal, D., & Chartrand, T. (2011) Embodied Emotion Perception: Amplifying and Dampening Facial Feedback Modulates Emotion Perception Accuracy. Social Psychological and Personality Science. DOI: 10.1177/1948550611406138
- October 7, 2008
- 03:20 PM
- 996 views
The look of love: eyes straight ahead, smile wide
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Eye contact may help focus our attention on persons who are expressing interest in us. Or is this answer too simplistic? Read more.... Read more »
C.A. Conway, B.C. Jones, L.M. DeBruine, & A.C. Little. (2008) Evidence for adaptive design in human gaze preference. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 275(1630), 63-69. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2007.1073
- July 8, 2011
- 07:34 PM
- 989 views
7 ways to let a date down easy
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Someone new asks you out, but you are not interested. What’s the best way to say no? ... Read more »
Tom Tong, S., & Walther, J. (2010) Just say ''no thanks'': Romantic rejection in computer-mediated communication. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(4), 488-506. DOI: 10.1177/0265407510384895
- June 3, 2011
- 12:46 PM
- 971 views
Do High Maintenance Women Snag Better Mates?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
High maintenance women just “want it the way they want it” and settling for something less is just unacceptable. Considering all the work involved, is it worth dating a high maintenance woman?... Read more »
Buss, D.M. (1988) The evolution of human intrasexual competition: Tactics of mate attraction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(4), 616-28. PMID: 3367282
Regan, P.C. (1998) What if You Can't Get What You Want? Willingness to Compromise Ideal Mate Selection Standards as a Function of Sex, Mate Value, and Relationship Context. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 24(12), 1294-1303. info:/10.1177/01461672982412004
Buss, D.M., & Shackelford, T.K. (1997) From vigilance to violence: Mate retention tactics in married couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(2), 346-361. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.72.2.346
Sedikides, C., Rudich, E.A., Gregg, A.P., Kumashiro, M., & Rusbult, C. (2004) Are normal narcissists psychologically healthy?: Self-esteem matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87(3), 400-416. PMID: 15382988
- May 4, 2010
- 12:03 PM
- 970 views
Does Couple Therapy Work?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Just released are the 5-year results from the largest-ever experimental study of therapies for unhappy couples. Discover whether the effects of couple's therapy actually last.... Read more »
Christensen, A., Atkins, D., Baucom, B., & Yi, J. (2010) Marital status and satisfaction five years following a randomized clinical trial comparing traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 225-235. DOI: 10.1037/a0018132
- November 10, 2008
- 05:31 PM
- 951 views
Why do people with similar marital history get together?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Never married people tend to be with other never married people. Divorced people tend to be with other divorced people. Why do we tend toward marital history homogamy?... Read more »
Bumpass, L., & Sweet, J. (1972) Differentials in marital instability:1970. American Sociological Review, 754-766.
Gerstel, N. (1987) Divorce and stigma. Social Problems, 172-186.
Kalmijn, M. (1998) Intermarriage and homogamy: Causes, patterns, trends. Annual Review of Sociology, 395-421.
Lugaila, T.A. (1998) Marital status and living arrangements. CPS Report, 20-514.
H ONO. (2005) Marital history homogamy between the divorced and the never married among non-Hispanic whites. Social Science Research, 34(2), 333-356. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2004.04.002
N Wolfinger. (2003) Family structure homogamy: The effects of parental divorce on partner selection and marital stability. Social Science Research, 32(1), 80-97. DOI: 10.1016/S0049-089X(02)00014-5
- June 23, 2011
- 08:38 PM
- 949 views
Pickup Lines that Actually Work
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Research shows that pickup lines can actually work. Find out the best way to approach someone new. ... Read more »
Senko, C., & Fyffe, V. (2010) An evolutionary perspective on effective vs. ineffective pick-up lines. The Journal of Social Psychology, 150(6), 648-67. PMID: 21166329
Weber, K., Goodboy, A., & Cayanus, J. (2010) Flirting Competence: An Experimental Study on Appropriate and Effective Opening Lines. Communication Research Reports, 27(2), 184-191. DOI: 10.1080/08824091003738149
- June 17, 2011
- 05:03 PM
- 942 views
Where does your empathy come from?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Do you ever get to the point where you feel as though you and your partner have absolutely nothing in common? Read further to find out the one common thread that lies in almost all of us. ... Read more »
Ramachandran, V. S. . (2001) Synaesthesia - a window into perception, thought and language. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 3-34. info:/
- March 31, 2011
- 02:36 PM
- 934 views
Is your partner snooping? You could be to blame.
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
While direct, chronic surveillance doesn’t happen for a majority of couples, many partners have probably felt the temptation to snoop on the other. But why? Is it happenstance mixed with curiosity- like when he leaves his email inbox open on your computer, or is something darker? Can you blame a partner when they find something incriminating? ... Read more »
Helsper, E., & Whitty, M. (2010) Netiquette within married couples: Agreement about acceptable online behavior and surveillance between partners. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(5), 916-926. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2010.02.006
VINKERS, C., FINKENAUER, C., & HAWK, S. (2011) Why do close partners snoop? Predictors of intrusive behavior in newlywed couples. Personal Relationships, 18(1), 110-124. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01314.x
- April 10, 2009
- 06:39 PM
- 921 views
Schrodinger’s Cat and the Study of Close Relationships: The Influence of Relationship Science Research on its Participants’ Relationships
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
Does studying relationships change the relationships being studied? Not surprisingly, yes. However, precisely how relationship research alters its participants’ relationships is still a matter of debate. A recent paper from Hughes and Surra (2000) offers some interesting answers…... Read more »
Hughes, D., & Surra, C. (2000) The Reported Influence of Research Participation on Premarital Relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62(3), 822-832. DOI: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2000.00822.x
- April 15, 2011
- 08:37 PM
- 914 views
Discovering the truth about your match
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Blog
When meeting someone for the first time online, there is limited information available. How do you know whether you can trust that information? Find out what strategies other people use to help them decipher fact from fiction.... Read more »
Gibbs, J., Ellison, N., & Lai, C. (2010) First Comes Love, Then Comes Google: An Investigation of Uncertainty Reduction Strategies and Self-Disclosure in Online Dating. Communication Research, 38(1), 70-100. DOI: 10.1177/0093650210377091
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