22 posts · 9,303 views
eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog has overviews and commentary about peer reviewed articles and other psychology research, especially relevant to interpersonal relationships.
eHarmony Labs
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- January 20, 2010
- 12:28 PM
- 92 views
Partner’s Picture Prevents Pain
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Another reason why staying socially connected to your loved ones is so important: pain reduction. Looking at photos of one’s significant other during physically painful situations reduced perceptions of pain. Partners are often thought of as being a pain, but in this case, their photo might prove to be the opposite!... Read more »
Master, S., Eisenberger, N., Taylor, S., Naliboff, B., Shirinyan, D., & Lieberman, M. (2009) A Picture's Worth: Partner Photographs Reduce Experimentally Induced Pain. Psychological Science, 20(11), 1316-1318. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02444.x
- December 14, 2009
- 05:09 PM
- 177 views
Height: A Predictor for Jealousy?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Recent research examined whether height predicts jealousy in relationships and how this differs for men and women. Find out more.... Read more »
Brewer, G., & Riley, C. (2009) Height, Relationship Satisfaction, Jealousy, and Mate Retention. Evolutionary Psychology, 7(3), 477-489. info:/
Judge TA, & Cable DM. (2004) The effect of physical height on workplace success and income: preliminary test of a theoretical model. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(3), 428-41. PMID: 15161403
Mueller, U., & Mazur, A. (2001) Evidence of unconstrained directional selection for male tallness. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 50(4), 302-311. DOI: 10.1007/s002650100370
Pawlowski B, Dunbar RI, & Lipowicz A. (2000) Tall men have more reproductive success. Nature, 403(6766), 156. PMID: 10646589
Pawlowski B, & Jasienska G. (2005) Women's preferences for sexual dimorphism in height depend on menstrual cycle phase and expected duration of relationship. Biological psychology, 70(1), 38-43. PMID: 16038772
- November 19, 2009
- 11:53 AM
- 222 views
Stressed out? High cholesterol? Try kissing!
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science 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
- November 5, 2009
- 11:38 AM
- 190 views
Are the Best Wingmen Actually Women?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
The pursuit of love may be more a cooperative team sport than a one-on-one pick-up game. New research reveals that both sexes cooperate to achieve romantic goals. Find out more.... Read more »
Ackerman, J., & Kenrick, D. (2009) Cooperative Courtship: Helping Friends Raise and Raze Relationship Barriers. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35(10), 1285-1300. DOI: 10.1177/0146167209335640
- October 23, 2009
- 11:54 AM
- 215 views
Rebounding may be good for the brokenhearted
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Flying in the face of conventional wisdom, new research shows that a rebound relationship—or even just the promise of one—might be helpful in alleviating the attachment to a former relationship.... Read more »
Spielmann, S., MacDonald, G., & Wilson, A. (2009) On the Rebound: Focusing on Someone New Helps Anxiously Attached Individuals Let Go of Ex-Partners. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35(10), 1382-1394. DOI: 10.1177/0146167209341580
- September 22, 2009
- 12:04 PM
- 267 views
Cry Me a Reason: The Benefits Crying Has on Relationships
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Inherently, many of us feel better after a good cry. Shakespeare knew it, too: “To weep is to make less the depth of grief.” Whether releasing a chemical build-up (which has been another focus of research on crying; see Parachin’s article outlined below) or simply blubbering out a dust particle, shedding tears seems [...]... Read more »
Hasson, O. (2009) Emotional Tears as Biological Signals. Evolutionary Psychology, 7(3), 363-370. info:/
- August 19, 2009
- 06:41 PM
- 222 views
Divorce and Health by Mid-life
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Recent research suggests that divorce may have a lasting negative impact on your health, even if you remarry. But is it the act of divorce or the stress behind it that is the real culprit? Find out more.... Read more »
Hughes, M.E., & Waite, L.J. (2009) Marital biography and health at mid-life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 50(September), 344-358. info:/
- July 22, 2009
- 06:38 PM
- 458 views
Keeping your man/woman yours
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
There are a number of strategies people use to keep their mates their own. Find out what these behaviors are and how they impact relationships.... Read more »
SHACKELFORD, T., GOETZ, A., & BUSS, D. (2005) Mate retention in marriage: Further evidence of the reliability of the Mate Retention Inventory. Personality and Individual Differences, 39(2), 415-425. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2005.01.018
SHACKELFORD, T., & BUSS, D. (2000) Marital satisfaction and spousal cost-infliction. Personality and Individual Differences, 28(5), 917-928. DOI: 10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00150-6
- July 10, 2009
- 06:35 PM
- 444 views
Boredom can eat away at a relationship
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
It’s not just fighting and conflict that can cause problems in a relationship. Boredom and lack of positivity in a relationship may also cause a gradual decline. A recent study by Irene Tsapelas and her colleagues found that marital boredom, measured by how often the participants felt their marriage was in a rut, [...]... Read more »
Aron, A., Norman, C., Aron, E., McKenna, C., & Heyman, R. (2000) Couples' shared participation in novel and arousing activities and experienced relationship quality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 273-284. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.78.2.273
Tsapelas, I., Aron, A., & Orbuch, T. (2009) Marital Boredom Now Predicts Less Satisfaction 9 Years Later. Psychological Science, 20(5), 543-545. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02332.x
- July 10, 2009
- 06:35 PM
- 348 views
Where Has All the Passion Gone? An Old Question with a New Answer.
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science 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
- July 10, 2009
- 06:34 PM
- 372 views
Daily Stress Impacts Your Daily Family Life
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
After a tough day at work, do you come back home feeling generally irritated or needing some quality time alone? Find out how your reactions to workplace stress can affect your family life, too.... Read more »
Repetti, R., Wang, S., & Saxbe, D. (2009) Bringing It All Back Home: How Outside Stressors Shape Families' Everyday Lives. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(2), 106-111. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01618.x
- April 10, 2009
- 06:39 PM
- 518 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 Hot Science 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 1, 2009
- 07:15 PM
- 476 views
Interest is in the Eye of the Beholder
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Can you tell when others show interest in you? You might not be the only one…find out more.... Read more »
Place, S., Todd, P., Penke, L., & Asendorpf, J. (2009) The Ability to Judge the Romantic Interest of Others. Psychological Science, 20(1), 22-26. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02248.x
- January 22, 2009
- 01:00 PM
- 740 views
Sex and the performance of desire
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science 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
- January 8, 2009
- 06:29 PM
- 457 views
Always look on the bright side…
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Should we be more optimistic? The answer if yes, if we listen to others...find out why.... Read more »
David A. Armor, Cade Massey, & Aaron M. Sackett. (2008) Prescribed Optimism: Is It Right to Be Wrong About the Future?. Psychological Science, 19(4), 329-331. DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02089.x
- December 15, 2008
- 06:01 PM
- 545 views
Attitudes predict interracial dating behaviors and vice versa
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Attitudes about racial and ethnic groups can influence decisions about whom you choose to date, but did you know that dating behaviors may impact your attitudes as well. Read more.... Read more »
S. Levin, P. L. Taylor, & E. Caudle. (2007) Interethnic and interracial dating in college: A longitudinal study. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 24(3), 323-341. DOI: 10.1177/0265407507077225
- November 10, 2008
- 05:31 PM
- 614 views
Why do people with similar marital history get together?
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science 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
- October 14, 2008
- 09:20 PM
- 490 views
Humor helps couples cope with conflict…sometimes
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science Blog
Humor can help couples enhance their relationships and also help to resolve problems. But there are some types of humor that are more helpful than others. Find out more.... Read more »
LORNE CAMPBELL, ROD A. MARTIN, & JENNIE R. WARD. (2008) An observational study of humor use while resolving conflict in dating couples. Personal Relationships, 15(1), 41-55. DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00183.x
- October 7, 2008
- 03:20 PM
- 631 views
The look of love: eyes straight ahead, smile wide
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science 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
- August 29, 2008
- 06:40 PM
- 663 views
Sociopolitical climate affects dating preferences
by eHarmony Labs in eHarmony Labs Hot Science 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
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