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What Makes a Partner Ideal, and for Whom? Compatibility Tests, Filter Tests, and the Mating Stability Matrix
Lorenza Lucchi Basili1, Pier Luigi Sacco2,3
1Independent Researcher, 20 Chestnut Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 7, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a new typology for heterosexual couples based on sexual orientation concordance and opposition, revealing diverse relationship formation and stability factors beyond traditional economic models. It offers insights into couple resilience and counseling applications.
Area of Science:
- Human sexuality research
- Relationship science
- Sociology of the family
Background:
- Existing models of human mating incentives, like Becker's marriage market approach, offer limited scope.
- A comprehensive typology of heterosexual couples is needed to understand diverse relationship dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel typological characterization of heterosexual couples.
- To explore alternative modes of couple formation and cohesion beyond economic incentives.
- To examine the implications of different couple types for stability and resilience.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the tie-up theory to define active and receptive sexual orientations.
- Analyzing concordance and opposition of these orientations within heterosexual couples.
- Comparing this typological approach with established mating incentive models.
Main Results:
- Human mating incentives capture only specific instances of couple formations.
- Couple formation and cohesion can be driven by super-cooperation, convenience, or constriction.
- Different couple typologies exhibit varying levels of stability and resilience.
Conclusions:
- The proposed typology offers a broader framework for understanding heterosexual couple formation.
- Findings have implications for future experimental research in human sexuality.
- Results can inform individual and family counseling practices.
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