Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Desirable Characteristics in Others

Desirable Characteristics in Others

Various factors, including the type of relationship, gender, and duration of the relationship, influence the perception of desirable characteristics in others. While certain traits such as trustworthiness, cooperativeness, agreeableness, and extraversion are universally valued across all relationships, other characteristics are context-dependent and gain prominence based on specific relational dynamics.Universal and Context-Dependent TraitsTrustworthiness and cooperativeness are fundamental...

Relationship Formation

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...

Social Exchange Theory

Social Exchange Theory

We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).

Social Exchange Theory

Social Exchange Theory

As formulated by John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, Social Exchange Theory explains human relationships as economic-like exchanges that maximize rewards and minimize costs. This theory suggests that individuals engage in relationships to gain benefits and reduce burdens, similar to economic transactions. It has been widely applied to various types of relationships, including romantic, professional, and social interactions.Rewards and Costs in RelationshipsRelationship rewards include emotional...

Close Relationships and Culture

Close Relationships and Culture

Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

We typically love the people with whom we form relationships, but the type of love we have for our family, friends, and lovers differs. Robert Sternberg (1986) proposed that there are three components of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment. These three components form a triangle that defines multiple types of love: this is known as Sternberg’s triangular theory of love. Intimacy is the sharing of details and intimate thoughts and emotions. Passion is the physical attraction—the flame in the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same journal

Shared intentionality and attachment theories in WILD and WEIRD contexts.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

Constructing an architecture for a decolonized developmental science.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

Go WILD, but mind the gap.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

WILDing the study of developmental trajectories in navigation and wayfinding: Progress and challenges.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

WILD kids, cutting-edge research. Enhancing diversity and reflexivity in psychology.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

Same journal

Ethnographic methods can help psychology overcome its WEIRD problems.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Using the FishSim Animation Toolchain to Investigate Fish Behavior: A Case Study on Mate-Choice Copying In Sailfin Mollies

Using the FishSim Animation Toolchain to Investigate Fish Behavior: A Case Study on Mate-Choice Copying In Sailfin Mollies

Published on: November 8, 2018

Parsimony and basic principles in human "romantic" relationships.

George A Lozano¹

¹Estonian Centre of Evolutionary Ecology, Tartu, Estonia dr.george.lozano@gmail.com.

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences

|June 1, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Men seek romantic relationships more, benefit more, initiate fewer breakups, and suffer more post-breakup than women. Sexual selection and family law offer parsimonious explanations for these relationship patterns.

More Related Videos

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches

Published on: December 26, 2019

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

Published on: August 4, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Using the FishSim Animation Toolchain to Investigate Fish Behavior: A Case Study on Mate-Choice Copying In Sailfin Mollies

Using the FishSim Animation Toolchain to Investigate Fish Behavior: A Case Study on Mate-Choice Copying In Sailfin Mollies

Published on: November 8, 2018

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches

Operant Conditioning Task to Measure Song Preference in Zebra Finches

Published on: December 26, 2019

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

A Naturalistic Setup for Presenting Real People and Live Actions in Experimental Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Studies

Published on: August 4, 2023

Area of Science:

Evolutionary psychology
Sociology
Human behavior

Background:

Men's relationship-seeking behaviors and outcomes differ significantly from women's.
Previous explanations often focus on emotional support availability.
These differences warrant a broader evolutionary and legal framework.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the differential patterns in romantic relationship initiation, benefits, breakup initiation, and post-breakup suffering between men and women.
To propose parsimonious explanations for these observed patterns.
To evaluate the explanatory power of sexual selection theory and family law.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of relationship behaviors and outcomes between genders.
Theoretical framework integrating sexual selection principles.
Examination of family law structures in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) societies.

Main Results:

Men exhibit higher relationship seeking, greater benefits, lower breakup initiation, and more intense post-breakup suffering compared to women.
Emotional support availability is not a necessary explanation for these patterns.
Sexual selection and WEIRD societal family law provide a more economical explanation.

Conclusions:

Human romantic relationship dynamics, including gender differences, can be effectively explained through evolutionary principles of sexual selection.
Family law in WEIRD societies plays a significant role in shaping these relationship patterns.
A unified framework of sexual selection and legal structures offers a parsimonious explanation for observed gender disparities in romantic relationships.