2nd draft of Annotated Bib

Annotated Bibliography

Research Question: Most people spend many years of their life looking for the right person to settle down with and spend the rest of their life with. It would be a whole lot easier if one could tell whether or not a person was right for him or her the moment he or she met another person. I am going to research what attracts people to other people in the American culture. What are the rules of attraction both physical and emotional attraction? What does it take to make a relationship last? What should a person look for in a potential life partner and what keeps a partner around for good?

Buss, David, et al. “A Half Century of Mate Preferences: The Cultural Evolution of Values.” Journal of Marriage and Family 63.2 (2001): 249. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

The qualities that people deemed as important in 1939 are not the same as they are now. Research has concluded that the main quality that has changed the most is domestic skills. Men once deemed this as a pretty important quality for women to have, but now it is not as high up on the list. Both men and women increased the importance of good-looks for their partner as well as financial stability. Men, more than ever, see financial prospect as an important trait in women.

Dryer, D., and Leonard Hororitz. “When Do Opposites Attract? Interpersonal Complementarity Versus Similarity.” Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 72.3 (1997): 592-603. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

This studies focuses on why opposites attract. It shows that people who are dating someone who compliments them are more happy in the relationship. A submissive person dating a dominant person is more satisfied than a submissive person dating a submissive person or a dominant with a dominant partner. This is because submissive people like to have someone there to help and or guide them in a certain direction. When two submissive people are together, there is no one to push or guide. A dominant person finds satisfaction in helping a submissive partner. A dominant person likes when he or she is allowed to dominate over things.

Friedlander, Laura J., et al. “Biological, Familial, and Peer Influences on Dating in Early Adolescence.” Archives of Sexual Behavior: 36.6 (2007): 821-30. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

This study examines middle school children and their dating habits. The results showed that boys were less likely to date if their parents knew what they were doing. Early dating for both boys and girls have been linked to pubertal maturation, peer delinquency, and peer dating.

Glad, John. “Female Attractiveness Evolutionary Psychology's Unfinished Business.” Mankind Quarterly 47.3 (2007): 75-90. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID 1 April 2008 . Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD.

This article takes a look at what attracts men to women. It points out that most of the attractable characteristics are universal throughout many cultures. This makes us believe that what attracts males to females may be a little genetic. On the other hand, some characteristics such as the preference of weight of females varies a lot among cultures pointing out that this attraction queue is not genetically based. Males are often attracted to a female whom they think will be a good mother. Someone strong with child bearing hips.

Grant, Ruth. “Couple Similarity and Marital Satisfaction: Are Similar Spouses Happier?” Journal of Personality 74.5 (2006): 1401-20. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

This journal discusses some of the important factors that may or may not contribute to a successful partnership. It showed that couple similarity is highly related to marital satisfaction. The study shows that similarity on gender roles and personality is more important than religious similarities. “Presumably, discrepancies in values and traits between spouses may stimulate marital conflicts and negative emotions of anger and resentment.” This is why couples with many things in common are often happier in their relationships.

Leck, Kira. “Correlates of Minimal Dating.” Journal of Social Psychology 146.5 (2006): 549-67. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

This article investigates college students who don’t date much. Shyness, introversion, attractiveness, social self-esteem, and loneliness correlate to women not dating. For men, physical attractiveness, observer-rated social skill, social self-esteem, and loneliness correlated minimal dating.

Li, Norman, and Douglas Kenrick. “Sex Similarities and Differences in Preferences for Short-Term Mates: What, Whether, and Why.” Journal of Personality & Social Psychology 90.3 (2006): 468-89. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

This journal did a study to see what characteristics are present in short term sexual relations and with long term relationships. It found that in short one night stands both males and females usually only look for an attractive partner. Females like tall muscular guys while males go for short pretty girls with a nice butt and breasts. For a female looking for a man to marry, she most likely looks for someone who is kind, intelligent, and resourceful. Men looking for a possible lifetime partner probably will look for someone is kind, smart, and attractive.

Najman, Fake M., et al. “Sexual Partner Preferences: Evolutionary Imperative, Emotional Attachment or Hedonism?” Marriage & Family Review 40.1 (2006): 5-23. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

An Australian survey surveyed men and women to find out what is desired in a sexual partner. The most desired quality is being with someone who cares for them and someone he or she can love. Also ranked high is that the partner should enjoy sex even if they do not enjoy sex themselves. People expressed similar preferences in sexual partners no matter age, sex, or marital status. Heterosexuals place more of an emphasis on physical beauty than non heterosexuals.

Sprecher, Susan, and Pamela Regan. “Liking some things (in some people) more than others: Partner preferences in romantic relationships and friendships.” Journal of Social & Personal Relationships 19.4 (2002): 463- . Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 .

The research done is this study focuses on what traits differ among romantic relationships and friendships. The study found that, no matter what kind of relationship, it is important to find a partner with warmth, kindness, expressiveness, and a sense of humor. The amount of these characteristics varies among the type of relationship, but they are still the most highly valued traits.

Sprecher, Susan, Quintin Sullivan, and Elaine Hatfield. “Mate Selection Preferences: Gender Differences Examined in a National Sample.” Journal of Personality & Social Psychology Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. U of South Dakota, ID Weeks Lib., Vermillion, SD. 1 April 2008 . 66.6 (1994): 1074-80.

This article researches the willingness of men and women to marry someone based on age, looks, race, religion, income, and whether they have been married before or not. Most of the data they collected was consistent with other studies. Youth and physical attractiveness were found to be more important for men than for women; earning potential was found to be less important for men than for women.