Capturing the Interpersonal Implications of Evolved Preferences? Frequency of Sex Shapes Automatic, but Not Explicit, Partner Evaluations

• Published in: Psychological science Vol. 27; no. 6; pp. 836 - 847
• Main Authors: Hicks, Lindsey L., McNulty, James K., Meltzer, Andrea L., Olson, Michael A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.06.2016; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adult; Automatic; Cognitive psychology; Female; Humans; Information processing; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Newlyweds; Personal relationships; Personal Satisfaction; Phylogenetics; Preferences; Psychology; Sexual behavior; Sexual Behavior - psychology; Sexual behaviour; Sexual intercourse; Spouses - psychology; open materials; automatic processes; relationship satisfaction; evolved preferences; implicit attitudes; sex
• ISSN: 0956-7976; 1467-9280
• DOI: 10.1177/0956797616638650

A strong predisposition to engage in sexual intercourse likely evolved in humans because sex is crucial to reproduction. Given that meeting interpersonal preferences tends to promote positive relationship evaluations, sex within a relationship should be positively associated with relationship satisfaction. Nevertheless, prior research has been inconclusive in demonstrating such a link, with longitudinal and experimental studies showing no association between sexual frequency and relationship satisfaction. Crucially, though, all prior research has utilized explicit reports of satisfaction, which reflect deliberative processes that may override the more automatic implications of phylogenetically older evolved preferences. Accordingly, capturing the implications of sexual frequency for relationship evaluations may require implicit measurements that bypass deliberative reasoning. Consistent with this idea, one cross-sectional and one 3-year study of newlywed couples revealed a positive association between sexual frequency and automatic partner evaluations but not explicit satisfaction. These findings highlight the importance of automatic measurements to understanding interpersonal relationships.