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Sex differences in factors of romantic attraction

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Abstract

Subjects were asked to rate various physical features, demographic characteristics, and personal qualities in terms of their degree of importance in determining choice of romantic partners in both sexual and meaningful or long-term relationships. Consistent with the sex-role stereotype, males placed relatively greater emphasis than females on the physical characteristics of their prospective romantic partners. Females more strongly emphasized the personal qualities of their prospective partners than did males. Both sexes more heavily weighed various personal qualities than physical characteristics in the context of romantic choice in a meaningful relationship.

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Nevid, J.S. Sex differences in factors of romantic attraction. Sex Roles 11, 401–411 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287468

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287468

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