The research on this page reveals interesting aspects of human pair-bonding. Incidentally, there is no theoretical reason to assume that the processes behind pair-bonding would differ across sexual orientations.

Gratitude

Implementation intentions to express gratitude increase daily time co-present with an intimate partner, and moderate effects of variation in CD38

Faithfulness and promiscuity

The Myth of the Philandering Man and the Crafty Woman

A Historical-Genetic Reconstruction of Human Extra-Pair Paternity

Low historical rates of cuckoldry in a Western European human population traced by Y-chromosome and genealogical data

High rate of extrapair paternity in a human population demonstrates diversity in human reproductive strategies

The Ape That Thought It Was a Peacock

Money, Sex and Happiness: An Empirical Study

Open Relationships, Nonconsensual Nonmonogamy, and Monogamy Among U.S. Adults: Findings from the 2012 National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior

Young men and women’s implicit attitudes towards consensually nonmonogamous relationships

Open Relationship Prevalence, Characteristics, and Correlates in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Adults

Assessing Implicit Associations with Consensual Non-monogamy Among U.S. Early Emerging Adults: An Application of the Single-Target Implicit Association Test

The reasons that prevent people from cheating on their partners: An evolutionary account of the propensity not to cheat

The lifetime number of sex partners and sexual satisfaction of young adults: the roles of gender, relationship status, motivation and self-esteem

An Ethological Study of Camgirls: Plentiful, Sexually Available Virtual Women For Hire

Attachment

The Science of Love, Desire and Attachment (2.5-hour video by Stanford neurobiologist Andrew Huberman PhD)

CD38 is associated with bonding-relevant cognitions and relationship satisfaction over the first 3 years of marriage

The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings

Beyond Satisfaction: The Role of Attachment in Marital Functioning

Miscellaneous research on pair bonding

Life history correlates of human (Homo sapiens) ejaculate quality

The Common Neural Bases Between Sexual Desire and Love: A Multilevel Kernel Density fMRI Analysis

The role of body odors and olfactory ability in the initiation, maintenance and breakdown of romantic relationships – A review

Do women love their partner’s smell? Exploring women’s preferences for and identification of male partner and non-partner body odor

Testing the Affiliation Hypothesis of Homoerotic Motivation in Humans: The Effects of Progesterone and Priming

Relational Motives Reduce Attentional Adhesion to Attractive Alternatives in Heterosexual University Students in China

Mate Preferences and Their Behavioral Manifestations

Does a Long-Term Relationship Kill Romantic Love?

A Descriptive Analysis of Sexual Problems in Long-Term Heterosexual Relationships

Quantifying the Sexual Afterglow: The Lingering Benefits of Sex and Their Implications for Pair-Bonded Relationships

Physical and Emotional Satisfaction at First Same-Sex Anal Sex in Young Gay and Bisexual Men

Sexual motivation and the duration of partnership

Development of Relationship Satisfaction Across the Life Span: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Higher love?

Sanctification and Cheating Among Emerging Adults

Rituals and Nuptials: Relationship Rituals Predict Relationship Satisfaction

The State of Our Unions 2001: The Social Health of Marriage in America: Who Wants to Marry a Soul Mate?: New Survey Findings on Young Adults’ Attitudes about Love and Marriage