Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: Building on Segrin and Nabi (2002), this study examined possible associations between romantic TV content and romantic expectations (romantic beliefs and fantasy rumination) in individuals who are versus are not involved in committed romantic relationships. Participants were 415 undergraduates who completed self-administered questionnaires. Results revealed that exposure to romantic TV and seeking romantic fulfillment from TV were positive predictors for fantasy rumination, but not for romantic beliefs, whereas perceived realism of TV’s romantic portrayals was a positive predictor for romantic beliefs, but not for fantasy rumination. Additionally, romantic expectations were positively predicted by the strength of respondents’ romantic parasocial relationship with favorite TV characters or personalities. Associations among the main romantic TV variables in not committed and committed individuals separately showed similar patterns. However, perceived realism of TV’s romantic portrayals was a positive predictor of romantic beliefs only in committed individuals. Implications for these findings are discussed.

Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: Prior research suggests that unrealistic expectations for romantic relationships predict relationship dissatisfaction and marital discord. We know very little, however, about the potential sources of these expectations, among them the mass media. Using data from a survey of adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17, the present study examines the link between exposure to romantic-themed media content and beliefs in (1) the existence of soul-mates (2) the need for partners to intuitively sense each other’s needs and feelings. Participants reported the frequency with which they watched 75 television shows and read 30 magazines. For each media title, frequency of exposure was weighted by a “relationship content” score, a rating of the degree to which the show or magazine focuses on love, romance, and dating (as determined by an independent sample of college students). Results indicate that for both boys and girls greater exposure to romantic-themed media is positively associated with unrealistic beliefs about romantic relationships.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The present research examined possible predictors for romantic expectations, relationship satisfaction and development of parasocial relationships among individuals who were involved in committed relationships. Also, it predicted moderating effects for relationship satisfaction and perceived realism of romantic TV portrayals suggesting that the relation between exposure to romantic TV content and development of stronger parasocial relationship might differ at both level of satisfaction with current romantic relationship and realistic perception of romantic TV portrayals. Participants (196) were recruited from a larger sample (415) of young adults who completed self-administered questionnaires. Results revealed that the romantic TV variables were indeed positive predictors for romantic expectations, satisfaction and strength of parasocial relationship. Additionally, it was found that people holding more romantic expectations also reported more satisfaction in current relationship. Perceived realism was indeed a moderator for the relation between satisfaction and parasocial relationships with mediator characters. However, satisfaction did not interfere in the relation between exposure to romantic TV and parasocial relationships. Implications for these and other findings are discussed.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The past three decades have witnessed a large amount of research on mate selection. However, past theories of mate selection fall short in explaining why some women choose incarcerated men for their partners. Prior studies on the partners of prisoners focus on women who had known their partner prior to his incarceration. Thus, these studies offer little insight into why some women choose to enter into a romantic relationship with an inmate they did not know prior to his imprisonment. The present study has been designed to fill the gap in the current literature by examining this group of women.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Studies of adolescent dating and offending typically ignore the different characteristics of romantic relationships and the possibility that relationship features have competing consequences for delinquency. Here we focus on two attributes: love and sex. Building on social bond theory, we argue that romantic love should deter offending, whereas adolescent sex, likely has the opposite effect and encourages it. Sex is often a source of considerable stress for teenagers, a relationship likely exacerbated by particular social climates and contexts. Extending general strain theory, we suggest that relationship stress encourages adolescents to turn to delinquency in their attempts to alleviate their discomfort. Our analysis uses data collected from among adolescents interviewed in the National Adolescent Health Survey (Add Health). Consistent with our hypotheses, we find that the positive association between dating and delinquency masks the two opposing effects of love and sexual activity. Moreover, we find that, for the most part, these associations are not age or gender specific. As well, we find that relationships condition the effects of sexual activity: sexual intercourse outside of romantic relationships has a notable positive association with delinquency, whereas the association between relationship sex and delinquency is nonsignificant.