Interpreting Social-Sexual Communication: Relational Framing Theory and Social-Sexual Communication, Attraction, and Intent

Abstract

Drawing from relational framing theory (RFT), this manuscript proposes that during social-sexual communication, 3 primary social-sexual frames guide the interpretation of communication and 4 primary relational outcomes are drawn from that interpretation. The factor structure of this model was explored in an undergraduate sample (Study 1, N = 219) and confirmed in an online adult sample (Study 2, N = 344) using written, photographic, and video stimuli. Hypotheses drawn from RFT were tested using the combined sample. The relevance of social-sexual frames when interpreting text messages exchanged with potential partners was explored in Study 3 (N = 107). Results suggest that 3 distinct frames (i.e., seductiveness, flirtatiousness, and friendliness) inform attraction (i.e., physical and social) and relationship (i.e., sexual and romantic) outcomes in courtship. type of communication includes the verbal messages exchanged and the sequence of nonverbal behaviors of potential partners. Evolutionary perspectives on impression formation and human sexuality both contend that in opposite-gender 1 heterosexual encounters, each person seeks information to identify the mating potential, interest, and intentions of the other (Keating, 2006;Schaller, 2008).Although the evaluation of displays of dominance and affiliation are central functions of impression formation in general, courtship-relevant information is sought out and actively decoded when interacting with potential mates. Social-sexual communication and contextual cues help individuals discern the openness, availability, and intentions of potential partners. The interpretation of relational meaning (and potential) from often equivocal social-sexual communicative exchanges is the central task of relationship initiation. Without both communication and interpretation, relationship escalation could not occur.Social-sexual communication frames are the dimensions of nonverbal and verbal actions that occur when potential partners are in the initiating, exploring, or developing stages of courtship. Social-sexual perceptions are often broken down into three categories: friendly, flirting, or seductive (Abbey, 1982;Koeppel, Montagne-Miller, O'Hair, & Cody, 1993;Saal, Johnson, & Weber, 1989). From these social-sexual frames, perceivers infer the relational intent (i.e., romantic vs. sexual) and type of attraction (i.e., physical vs. social) of potential partners.This investigation will present a conceptual model of social-sexual communication that includes three social-sexual frames (i.e., friendly, flirting, and seductive) and four relational outcomes relevant to courtship (i.e., social and physical attraction; romantic and sexual intent). Utilizing a comprehensive list of items used in past research, this investigation will provide a parsimonious, reliable, multidimensional measure of the subcomponents of social-sexual frames, attraction, and intent (Study 1 and 2). This investigation will also test RFT by exploring the predictive value (Study 1, 2, and 3) and relevance (Study...

“Don’t Get Your Meat Where You Get Your Bread”: Beliefs and Advice about Workplace Romance

“…Cognitions provide the foundation for expression [ 17 ]. In the case of workplace romance, it was hypothesized (H3) that beliefs about such relationships would be related to advice offered about workplace romance.…”

“…That communication is one manifestation of underlying cognitions in interpersonal sexual relationships is a common idea [ 17 ]. Yet, perhaps the precariousness nature of this link between beliefs and communication in the context of workplace romance is best understood as a manifestation of permeable and flexible boundaries between public and private spheres of social life.…”

Factors Influencing Facebook Usage for Life Happiness Enhancement

“…As regards, Hall (2016), in the online survey, introduced a seductive frame that specified physical attraction as the interactive outcome of living a happy life in the courtship. Physical attraction is essential since a pleasing appearance connects to numerous positive qualities such as assertive, appreciative, motivated, honest, reliable, and responsible.…”

Mediating Effect of Uncertainty on The Relationship Between Interpersonal Attraction Traits and Life Happiness amongst Facebook Users

“…In brief, there are earlier studies about the relationship between interpersonal attraction and life happiness, e.g., Mrad and Cui (2017); Hall (2016); Bakkenbull & Kiefer (2015); Scott (2014); Winter et al (2011); Antheunis & Schouten (2011). However, the limitation is that the scholars were only focusing on the direct effect of interpersonal attraction to life happiness.…”