Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions

David P. Schmitt; Lidia Alcalay; Melissa Allensworth; Jüri Allik; Lara Ault; Ivars Austers; Kevin L. Bennett; Gabriel Bianchi; Fredrick Boholst; Mary Ann Borg Cunen; Johan Braeckman; Edwin G. Brainerd; Leo Gerard A. Caral; Gabrielle Caron; Maria Martina Casullo; Michael Cunningham; Ikuo Daibo; Charlotte De Backer; Eros De Souza; Rolando Diaz-Loving; Gláucia Diniz; Kevin Durkin; Marcela Echegaray; Ekin Eremsoy; Harald A. Euler; Ruth Falzon; Maryanne L. Fisher; Dolores Foley; Robert Fowler; Douglas P. Fry; F. R.Y. Sirpa; M. Arif Ghayur; Vijai N. Giri; Debra L. Golden; Karl Grammer; Liria Grimaldi; Jamin Halberstadt; Shamsul Haque; Dora Herrera; Janine Hertel; Amanda Hitchell; Heather Hoffmann; Danica Hooper; Zuzana Hradilekova; Jasna Hudek-Kene-Evi; Allen Huffcutt; Jas Jaafar; Margarita Jankauskaite; Heidi Kabangu-Stahel; Igor Kardum; Brigitte Khoury; Hayrran Kwon; Kaia Laidra; Anton Rupert Laireiter; Dustin Lakerveld; Ada Lampert; Maryanne Lauri; Margeurite Lavallée; L. E.E. Suk-Jae; Luk Chung Leung; Kenneth D. Locke; Vance Locke; Ivan Luksik; Ishmael Magaisa; Dalia Marcinkeviciene; André Mata; Rui Mata; Barry Mccarthy; Michael E. Mills; Nhlanhla J. Mkhize; João Moreira; Sérgio Moreira; Miguel Moya; M. Munyae; Patricia Noller; Hmoud Olimat; Adrian Opre; Alexia Panayiotou; Nebojsa Petrovtc; Karolien Poels; Miroslav Popper; Maria Poulimenou; Volodymyr P'Yatokha; Michel Raymond; Ulf Dietrich Reips; Susan E. Reneau; Sofia Rivera-Aragon; Wade C. Rowatt; Willibald Ruch; Velko S. Rus; Marilyn P. Safir; Sonia Salas; Fabio Sambataro; Kenneth N. Sandnabba; Rachel Schleeter; Marion K. Schulmeyer; Astrid Schutz; Tullio Scrimali; Todd K. Shackelford; MITHILA B. SHARAN; PHILLIP R. SHAVER; FRANCIS SICHONA

doi:10.1111/1475-6811.00052

Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions

David P. Schmitt, Lidia Alcalay, Melissa Allensworth, Jüri Allik, Lara Ault, Ivars Austers, Kevin L. Bennett, Gabriel Bianchi, Fredrick Boholst, Mary Ann Borg Cunen, Johan Braeckman, Edwin G. Brainerd, Leo Gerard A. Caral, Gabrielle Caron, Maria Martina Casullo, Michael Cunningham, Ikuo Daibo, Charlotte De Backer, Eros De Souza, Rolando Diaz-LovingGláucia Diniz, Kevin Durkin, Marcela Echegaray, Ekin Eremsoy, Harald A. Euler, Ruth Falzon, Maryanne L. Fisher, Dolores Foley, Robert Fowler, Douglas P. Fry, F. R.Y. Sirpa, M. Arif Ghayur, Vijai N. Giri, Debra L. Golden, Karl Grammer, Liria Grimaldi, Jamin Halberstadt, Shamsul Haque, Dora Herrera, Janine Hertel, Amanda Hitchell, Heather Hoffmann, Danica Hooper, Zuzana Hradilekova, Jasna Hudek-Kene-Evi, Allen Huffcutt, Jas Jaafar, Margarita Jankauskaite, Heidi Kabangu-Stahel, Igor Kardum, Brigitte Khoury, Hayrran Kwon, Kaia Laidra, Anton Rupert Laireiter, Dustin Lakerveld, Ada Lampert, Maryanne Lauri, Margeurite Lavallée, L. E.E. Suk-Jae, Luk Chung Leung, Kenneth D. Locke, Vance Locke, Ivan Luksik, Ishmael Magaisa, Dalia Marcinkeviciene, André Mata, Rui Mata, Barry Mccarthy, Michael E. Mills, Nhlanhla J. Mkhize, João Moreira, Sérgio Moreira, Miguel Moya, M. Munyae, Patricia Noller, Hmoud Olimat, Adrian Opre, Alexia Panayiotou, Nebojsa Petrovtc, Karolien Poels, Miroslav Popper, Maria Poulimenou, Volodymyr P'Yatokha, Michel Raymond, Ulf Dietrich Reips, Susan E. Reneau, Sofia Rivera-Aragon, Wade C. Rowatt, Willibald Ruch, Velko S. Rus, Marilyn P. Safir, Sonia Salas, Fabio Sambataro, Kenneth N. Sandnabba, Rachel Schleeter, Marion K. Schulmeyer, Astrid Schutz, Tullio Scrimali, Todd K. Shackelford, MITHILA B. SHARAN, PHILLIP R. SHAVER, FRANCIS SICHONA

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Gender differences in the dismissing form of adult romantic attachment were investigated as part of the International Sexuality Description Project - a survey study of 17,804 people from 62 cultural regions. Contrary to research findings previously reported in Western cultures, we found that men were not significantly more dismissing than women across all cultural regions. Gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment were evident in most cultures, but were typically only small to moderate in magnitude. Looking across cultures, the degree of gender differentiation in dismissing romantic attachment was predictably associated with sociocultural indicators. Generally, these associations supported evolutionary theories of romantic attachment, with smaller gender differences evident in cultures with high-stress and high-fertility reproductive environments. Social role theories of human sexuality received less support in that more progressive sex-role ideologies and national gender equity indexes were not cross-culturally linked as expected to smaller gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	307-331
Number of pages	25
Journal	Personal Relationships
Volume	10
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6811.00052
State	Published - 1 Sep 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Anthropology
Developmental and Educational Psychology
Life-span and Life-course Studies

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/1475-6811.00052

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Schmitt, D. P., Alcalay, L., Allensworth, M., Allik, J., Ault, L., Austers, I., Bennett, K. L., Bianchi, G., Boholst, F., Borg Cunen, M. A., Braeckman, J., Brainerd, E. G., Caral, L. G. A., Caron, G., Casullo, M. M., Cunningham, M., Daibo, I., De Backer, C., De Souza, E., ... SICHONA, FRANCIS. (2003). Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions. Personal Relationships, 10(3), 307-331. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6811.00052

@article{92c46eed9c3041a3bea630ecad86ce28,

title = "Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions",

abstract = "Gender differences in the dismissing form of adult romantic attachment were investigated as part of the International Sexuality Description Project - a survey study of 17,804 people from 62 cultural regions. Contrary to research findings previously reported in Western cultures, we found that men were not significantly more dismissing than women across all cultural regions. Gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment were evident in most cultures, but were typically only small to moderate in magnitude. Looking across cultures, the degree of gender differentiation in dismissing romantic attachment was predictably associated with sociocultural indicators. Generally, these associations supported evolutionary theories of romantic attachment, with smaller gender differences evident in cultures with high-stress and high-fertility reproductive environments. Social role theories of human sexuality received less support in that more progressive sex-role ideologies and national gender equity indexes were not cross-culturally linked as expected to smaller gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment.",

author = "Schmitt, {David P.} and Lidia Alcalay and Melissa Allensworth and J{\"u}ri Allik and Lara Ault and Ivars Austers and Bennett, {Kevin L.} and Gabriel Bianchi and Fredrick Boholst and {Borg Cunen}, {Mary Ann} and Johan Braeckman and Brainerd, {Edwin G.} and Caral, {Leo Gerard A.} and Gabrielle Caron and Casullo, {Maria Martina} and Michael Cunningham and Ikuo Daibo and {De Backer}, Charlotte and {De Souza}, Eros and Rolando Diaz-Loving and Gl{\'a}ucia Diniz and Kevin Durkin and Marcela Echegaray and Ekin Eremsoy and Euler, {Harald A.} and Ruth Falzon and Fisher, {Maryanne L.} and Dolores Foley and Robert Fowler and Fry, {Douglas P.} and Sirpa, {F. R.Y.} and Ghayur, {M. Arif} and Giri, {Vijai N.} and Golden, {Debra L.} and Karl Grammer and Liria Grimaldi and Jamin Halberstadt and Shamsul Haque and Dora Herrera and Janine Hertel and Amanda Hitchell and Heather Hoffmann and Danica Hooper and Zuzana Hradilekova and Jasna Hudek-Kene-Evi and Allen Huffcutt and Jas Jaafar and Margarita Jankauskaite and Heidi Kabangu-Stahel and Igor Kardum and Brigitte Khoury and Hayrran Kwon and Kaia Laidra and Laireiter, {Anton Rupert} and Dustin Lakerveld and Ada Lampert and Maryanne Lauri and Margeurite Lavall{\'e}e and Suk-Jae, {L. E.E.} and Leung, {Luk Chung} and Locke, {Kenneth D.} and Vance Locke and Ivan Luksik and Ishmael Magaisa and Dalia Marcinkeviciene and Andr{\'e} Mata and Rui Mata and Barry Mccarthy and Mills, {Michael E.} and Mkhize, {Nhlanhla J.} and Jo{\~a}o Moreira and S{\'e}rgio Moreira and Miguel Moya and M. Munyae and Patricia Noller and Hmoud Olimat and Adrian Opre and Alexia Panayiotou and Nebojsa Petrovtc and Karolien Poels and Miroslav Popper and Maria Poulimenou and Volodymyr P'Yatokha and Michel Raymond and Reips, {Ulf Dietrich} and Reneau, {Susan E.} and Sofia Rivera-Aragon and Rowatt, {Wade C.} and Willibald Ruch and Rus, {Velko S.} and Safir, {Marilyn P.} and Sonia Salas and Fabio Sambataro and Sandnabba, {Kenneth N.} and Rachel Schleeter and Schulmeyer, {Marion K.} and Astrid Schutz and Tullio Scrimali and Shackelford, {Todd K.} and SHARAN, {MITHILA B.} and SHAVER, {PHILLIP R.} and FRANCIS SICHONA",

year = "2003",

month = sep,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/1475-6811.00052",

language = "English",

volume = "10",

pages = "307--331",

journal = "Personal Relationships",

issn = "1350-4126",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",

number = "3",

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Schmitt, DP, Alcalay, L, Allensworth, M, Allik, J, Ault, L, Austers, I, Bennett, KL, Bianchi, G, Boholst, F, Borg Cunen, MA, Braeckman, J, Brainerd, EG, Caral, LGA, Caron, G, Casullo, MM, Cunningham, M, Daibo, I, De Backer, C, De Souza, E, Diaz-Loving, R, Diniz, G, Durkin, K, Echegaray, M, Eremsoy, E, Euler, HA, Falzon, R, Fisher, ML, Foley, D, Fowler, R, Fry, DP, Sirpa, FRY, Ghayur, MA, Giri, VN, Golden, DL, Grammer, K, Grimaldi, L, Halberstadt, J, Haque, S, Herrera, D, Hertel, J, Hitchell, A, Hoffmann, H, Hooper, D, Hradilekova, Z, Hudek-Kene-Evi, J, Huffcutt, A, Jaafar, J, Jankauskaite, M, Kabangu-Stahel, H, Kardum, I, Khoury, B, Kwon, H, Laidra, K, Laireiter, AR, Lakerveld, D, Lampert, A, Lauri, M, Lavallée, M, Suk-Jae, LEE, Leung, LC, Locke, KD, Locke, V, Luksik, I, Magaisa, I, Marcinkeviciene, D, Mata, A, Mata, R, Mccarthy, B, Mills, ME, Mkhize, NJ, Moreira, J, Moreira, S, Moya, M, Munyae, M, Noller, P, Olimat, H, Opre, A, Panayiotou, A, Petrovtc, N, Poels, K, Popper, M, Poulimenou, M, P'Yatokha, V, Raymond, M, Reips, UD, Reneau, SE, Rivera-Aragon, S, Rowatt, WC, Ruch, W, Rus, VS, Safir, MP, Salas, S, Sambataro, F, Sandnabba, KN, Schleeter, R, Schulmeyer, MK, Schutz, A, Scrimali, T, Shackelford, TK, SHARAN, MITHILAB, SHAVER, PHILLIPR & SICHONA, FRANCIS 2003, 'Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions', Personal Relationships, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 307-331. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6811.00052

TY - JOUR

T1 - Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions

AU - Schmitt, David P.

AU - Alcalay, Lidia

AU - Allensworth, Melissa

AU - Allik, Jüri

AU - Ault, Lara

AU - Austers, Ivars

AU - Bennett, Kevin L.

AU - Bianchi, Gabriel

AU - Boholst, Fredrick

AU - Borg Cunen, Mary Ann

AU - Braeckman, Johan

AU - Brainerd, Edwin G.

AU - Caral, Leo Gerard A.

AU - Caron, Gabrielle

AU - Casullo, Maria Martina

AU - Cunningham, Michael

AU - Daibo, Ikuo

AU - De Backer, Charlotte

AU - De Souza, Eros

AU - Diaz-Loving, Rolando

AU - Diniz, Gláucia

AU - Durkin, Kevin

AU - Echegaray, Marcela

AU - Eremsoy, Ekin

AU - Euler, Harald A.

AU - Falzon, Ruth

AU - Fisher, Maryanne L.

AU - Foley, Dolores

AU - Fowler, Robert

AU - Fry, Douglas P.

AU - Sirpa, F. R.Y.

AU - Ghayur, M. Arif

AU - Giri, Vijai N.

AU - Golden, Debra L.

AU - Grammer, Karl

AU - Grimaldi, Liria

AU - Halberstadt, Jamin

AU - Haque, Shamsul

AU - Herrera, Dora

AU - Hertel, Janine

AU - Hitchell, Amanda

AU - Hoffmann, Heather

AU - Hooper, Danica

AU - Hradilekova, Zuzana

AU - Hudek-Kene-Evi, Jasna

AU - Huffcutt, Allen

AU - Jaafar, Jas

AU - Jankauskaite, Margarita

AU - Kabangu-Stahel, Heidi

AU - Kardum, Igor

AU - Khoury, Brigitte

AU - Kwon, Hayrran

AU - Laidra, Kaia

AU - Laireiter, Anton Rupert

AU - Lakerveld, Dustin

AU - Lampert, Ada

AU - Lauri, Maryanne

AU - Lavallée, Margeurite

AU - Suk-Jae, L. E.E.

AU - Leung, Luk Chung

AU - Locke, Kenneth D.

AU - Locke, Vance

AU - Luksik, Ivan

AU - Magaisa, Ishmael

AU - Marcinkeviciene, Dalia

AU - Mata, André

AU - Mata, Rui

AU - Mccarthy, Barry

AU - Mills, Michael E.

AU - Mkhize, Nhlanhla J.

AU - Moreira, João

AU - Moreira, Sérgio

AU - Moya, Miguel

AU - Munyae, M.

AU - Noller, Patricia

AU - Olimat, Hmoud

AU - Opre, Adrian

AU - Panayiotou, Alexia

AU - Petrovtc, Nebojsa

AU - Poels, Karolien

AU - Popper, Miroslav

AU - Poulimenou, Maria

AU - P'Yatokha, Volodymyr

AU - Raymond, Michel

AU - Reips, Ulf Dietrich

AU - Reneau, Susan E.

AU - Rivera-Aragon, Sofia

AU - Rowatt, Wade C.

AU - Ruch, Willibald

AU - Rus, Velko S.

AU - Safir, Marilyn P.

AU - Salas, Sonia

AU - Sambataro, Fabio

AU - Sandnabba, Kenneth N.

AU - Schleeter, Rachel

AU - Schulmeyer, Marion K.

AU - Schutz, Astrid

AU - Scrimali, Tullio

AU - Shackelford, Todd K.

AU - SHARAN, MITHILA B.

AU - SHAVER, PHILLIP R.

AU - SICHONA, FRANCIS

PY - 2003/9/1

Y1 - 2003/9/1

N2 - Gender differences in the dismissing form of adult romantic attachment were investigated as part of the International Sexuality Description Project - a survey study of 17,804 people from 62 cultural regions. Contrary to research findings previously reported in Western cultures, we found that men were not significantly more dismissing than women across all cultural regions. Gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment were evident in most cultures, but were typically only small to moderate in magnitude. Looking across cultures, the degree of gender differentiation in dismissing romantic attachment was predictably associated with sociocultural indicators. Generally, these associations supported evolutionary theories of romantic attachment, with smaller gender differences evident in cultures with high-stress and high-fertility reproductive environments. Social role theories of human sexuality received less support in that more progressive sex-role ideologies and national gender equity indexes were not cross-culturally linked as expected to smaller gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment.

AB - Gender differences in the dismissing form of adult romantic attachment were investigated as part of the International Sexuality Description Project - a survey study of 17,804 people from 62 cultural regions. Contrary to research findings previously reported in Western cultures, we found that men were not significantly more dismissing than women across all cultural regions. Gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment were evident in most cultures, but were typically only small to moderate in magnitude. Looking across cultures, the degree of gender differentiation in dismissing romantic attachment was predictably associated with sociocultural indicators. Generally, these associations supported evolutionary theories of romantic attachment, with smaller gender differences evident in cultures with high-stress and high-fertility reproductive environments. Social role theories of human sexuality received less support in that more progressive sex-role ideologies and national gender equity indexes were not cross-culturally linked as expected to smaller gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0042418488&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/1475-6811.00052

DO - 10.1111/1475-6811.00052

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:0042418488

SN - 1350-4126

VL - 10

SP - 307

EP - 331

JO - Personal Relationships

JF - Personal Relationships

IS - 3

ER -

Are men universally more dismissing than women? Gender differences in romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions

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