The research on this page reveals interesting aspects of human pair-bonding. The collection includes papers on evolutionary biology, behavioral science, and relational psychology. The featured papers explore the origins, mechanics, and maintenance of pair bonding.

A significant portion of the material investigates the historical and genetic realities of human mating systems, challenging rigid assumptions about fidelity and promiscuity. Beyond the macro-level view of evolution and mating strategies, the collection delves into the micro-mechanisms of daily relationship maintenance and emotional satisfaction.

The literature underscores the fact that pair bonding has biological underpinnings. It highlights the neurochemical and psychological underpinnings of connection—such as the role of neuropeptides like oxytocin and genetic markers like CD38—in fostering trust, empathy, and partner synchronisation. This research also analyses practical relationship dynamics, including the intentional expression of gratitude, conflict resolution, the lingering benefits of sexual intimacy, and the evolution of relationship satisfaction over the lifespan.

By bridging hard science—such as genetics and ethology—with studies on human happiness, attachment styles, and intimacy, the compilation serves as a resource for understanding what drives people to form lasting bonds and what sustains those connections over time.

Incidentally, there is no theoretical reason to assume that the processes behind pair-bonding would differ across sexual orientations.

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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

Compensatory Effects of Affectionate Communication in Marriages with Infrequent Sexual Activity

Life history correlates of human (Homo sapiens) ejaculate quality

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

Reproductive Strategies and Romantic Love in Early Modern Europe

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