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Predictors of Bisexual Individuals’ Dating Decisions
Abstract
Despite the capacity for being attracted to both sexes, 84% of bisexuals engage in opposite sex relationships. The mechanisms underlying these dating decisions are unclear. The present research explores three possibilities as to why this disparity exists: (1) a desire for sexual reproduction, (2) pressure to conform to social norms, and (3) base rates of the available dating pool. Bisexuals (n = 132) between the ages of 18 and 49 completed an online survey assessing their experiences as a bisexual person, perceptions of reproducing sexually, and their dating habits. Results suggest pressure to conform to heterosexual social norms and the makeup of the available dating pool play a role in bisexuals’ decisions to date the opposite sex.
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Funding
This study was not funded by any grants.
Author information
Affiliations
Department of Psychology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA
Ashley K. Wu, Michael J. Marks, Tara M. Young & Morgan A. Beasley
Corresponding author
Correspondence to Ashley K. Wu.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Dating Decisions Questionnaire
Appendix 2: Importance of Children Questionnaire
The following questions asks about your attitudes and thoughts towards having children. Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability.
Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither agree nor disagree | Agree | Strongly agree | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Without children, life is meaningless | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2. I feel I’m breaking tradition by not having children | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. It is important that I have my own children | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. Having children is the ultimate goal in a romantic relationship | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. It is okay if my children are adopted, fostered, etc | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
a6. Children will interfere with my career and social life | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
a7. I’m not sure I want the responsibility of a child for the next 20 years | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8. Having children will bring me a type of joy that nothing else can bring | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
a9. Having children will have a negative impact on my relationship with my partner | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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