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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
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Strategic Behaviors in Romantic Relationship Initiation

Catherine L. Clark

Public Health Institute, cclark{at}arg.org

Phillip R. Shaver

University of California, Davis

Matthew F. Abrahams

Ariba Technologies

Two studies were conducted to examine the strategies used to initiate romantic relationships. In Study 1, participants responded to questions about general romantic relationship initiation strategies derived from the literature. In Study 2, participants wrote narrative accounts of their romantic relationship initiation experiences, which were coded for relationship goals and initiation strategies. The effect of biological sex on the evaluation and use of relationship initiation strategies was assessed in both studies. Overall, the normative pattern of goals and strategies prominently included love and intimacy goals and direct and emotional-disclosure strategies. Men tended to be more active and direct in the beginning stages of relational development and to be more interested than women in the goal of sexual intimacy; women used passive and indirect strategies more often than men. Results are discussed in terms of Buss and Schmitt’s sexual strategies theory and Reis and Shaver’s model of interpersonal intimacy.

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 25, No. 6, 709-722 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167299025006006
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