Study Overview
Recent research published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior reveals a connection between perceived power in romantic relationships and interest in alternative partners. The study shows that individuals who feel more powerful in their relationships are more likely to seek out other potential partners. This increase in interest stems from their belief that they possess higher mate value than their partner.
Background on Relationship Power
Previous studies have focused on power in non-romantic contexts, indicating that powerful individuals often experience increased confidence, assertiveness, and sexual motivation. Gurit E. Birnbaum and her colleagues aimed to explore how power dynamics within romantic relationships influence desires for alternatives. While past research examined power imbalances, many studies left questions about how these dynamics relate to infidelity.
Research Design
The researchers conducted four studies to investigate the link between perceived power in romantic relationships and extradyadic desires. Participants included romantically involved individuals, primarily from undergraduate programs.
Studies 1 and 2: Experimental Manipulations
In the first two studies, researchers induced feelings of power and measured expressions of desire for alternative partners.
- Study 1: Participants were randomly assigned to a power or control condition. Those in the power condition recalled an instance where they felt powerful over their partner. After this manipulation, they wrote sexual fantasies about someone other than their partner. The researchers then coded these fantasies for sexual desire toward alternative partners.
- Study 2: This study followed a similar procedure. Instead of writing fantasies, participants viewed photos of strangers and quickly judged whether they would consider each stranger as a potential partner. This method aimed to capture more automatic, unconscious responses.
Studies 3 and 4: Real-Life Dynamics
The next two studies explored power dynamics in more natural settings.
- Study 3: Participants described their relationship’s power dynamics and then interacted with an attractive confederate (a trained actor). They rated their sexual desire for the confederate, allowing researchers to assess whether perceived power influenced interest in alternatives during direct interactions.
- Study 4: This study extended the investigation over 21 days. Both members of heterosexual couples reported daily on perceived power, mate value, and engagement in extradyadic behavior. This method captured real-life fluctuations in power and their influence on desires and behaviors.
Key Findings
The results consistently showed that higher perceived power within romantic relationships increases interest in alternative partners. This effect is mediated by the belief in having higher relative mate value.
- In Study 1, participants who felt more powerful reported greater sexual desire for alternatives in their fantasies. This effect was particularly strong among men.
- Study 2 confirmed that participants in the power condition were more likely to view attractive strangers as potential partners. Both men and women in this condition were less motivated to protect their relationships from outside temptations.
- Study 3 found that participants who felt powerful also perceived themselves as having higher mate value, which predicted increased interest in an attractive stranger.
- Study 4 revealed that daily fluctuations in perceived power correlated with changes in mate value, which then predicted increased engagement in behaviors like flirting or fantasizing about others.
Conclusion
These studies suggest that feeling powerful in a relationship leads individuals to believe they have better mating opportunities. This belief fuels their interest in alternative partners.
Limitations
One limitation of the research is its reliance on self-reports and experimental manipulations. These methods may not fully capture the complexity of real-world relationships.
Research Publication
The paper, “The Power to Flirt: Power within Romantic Relationships and Its Contribution to Expressions of Extradyadic Desire,” was authored by Gurit E. Birnbaum, Yaniv Kanat-Maymon, Kobi Zholtack, Rafael Avidan, and Harry T. Reis.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-sheds-light-on-why-relationship-power-is-linked-to-interest-in-alternative-partners/
