Many researchers have assumed that sexual desire serves an initiation function by motivating proximity seeking, which in turn keeps partners together during the early stages of a relationship while commitment grows (e.g., Hazan & Zeifman, 1994, 1999; Zeifman & Hazan, 1997). Our evidence shows that sexual desire was at the least unrelated to commitment and that after we controlled for love it was negatively related to commitment. This suggests that sexual desire, in the absence of love, may play a larger role in motivating the pursuit of short-term mating strategies rather than initiating long-term commitments (e.g., Buss & Schmitt, 1993).
no subject
have assumed that sexual desire serves an initiation function by
motivating proximity seeking, which in turn keeps partners together
during the early stages of a relationship while commitment
grows (e.g., Hazan & Zeifman, 1994, 1999; Zeifman & Hazan,
1997). Our evidence shows that sexual desire was at the least
unrelated to commitment and that after we controlled for love it
was negatively related to commitment. This suggests that sexual
desire, in the absence of love, may play a larger role in motivating
the pursuit of short-term mating strategies rather than initiating
long-term commitments (e.g., Buss & Schmitt, 1993).