Attachment, culture and initial romantic attraction: A speed-dating study

Prospective effects of internalized stigma on same-sex relationship satisfaction: The mediating role of depressive symptoms and couple conflict.

“…For instance, it remains unclear whether internalized stigma might lead to unhelpful behaviors such as criticism and blame, or withdrawal and stonewalling (Halford & Pepping, 2019). Given that internalized stigma is associated with feelings of shame (Miceli & Castelfranchi, 2018) and the tendency to conceal one’s identity (Pepping et al, 2017), it seems likely that partners who are higher in internalized stigma may engage in more withdrawal and avoidance behaviors during conflict. Further, it is plausible that the content of the conflict may vary as a function of internalized stigma, with those who are higher in internalized stigma experiencing more couple conflict in relation to intimacy, closeness, and managing outness as a couple (Pepping & Halford, 2014).…”

Preference for dating out-group members: Not the same for all out-groups and cultural backgrounds

“…To increase the diversity in this area of research and test the generalizability of findings observed in one cultural context to other cultural contexts, we investigated out-group dating preferences in samples drawn from three different countries (UK, US, India). We chose these countries because this three-way comparison makes it possible to examine dating preferences in countries that vary in values (e.g., individualism/collectivism; power distance) which may impact attitudes and behaviors in relation to selecting a potential romantic partner (e.g., Hiew, Halford, Van De Vijver, & Liu, 2015;Pepping, Taylor, Koh, & Halford, 2017). Additionally, these countries provide ample opportunities for intergroup contact as they host many different racial and ethnic, religious (e.g., Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim), and socio-economic status (e.g., different castes and social classes) groups that live side by side (notably so in metropolitan areas such as London, New York, Mumbai).…”

The Influence of Adult Attachment on Coping Strategies and Conflict

“…Attachment theory proposes that the attachment system is a biologically prewired behavioural structure that activates upon perceiving threats and serves to ensure our survival by guiding physical proximity to attachment figures for protection [12]. In other words, the attachment system is a biologically evolved behavioural system, which motivates infants to seek proximity to caregivers to protect them from harm [64]. The attachment system is dynamic and significant through lifetime, and has effects for adult romantic relationships [61].…”