Psychology 320:
Gender Psychology
Lecture 36
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Term Paper
Due Date: April 9, 2010
• Purpose: To critically appraise theory and research
related to gender psychology.
• Format: Review research related to a contemporary
debate regarding gender, sex, and/or sexuality and
draw your own conclusions about the debate on the
basis of the evidence that you have reviewed.
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• Examples of contemporary debates: Are gender
differences the result of biological factors or social
factors? Are females and males more similar than
different? Does pornography reduce the incidence of
rape? Can same-sex couples effectively parent
children? Is female circumcision universally wrong?
Is the gender wage gap justified? Is fetal sex selection
harmful to society?
You are not limited to these subjects; any
contemporary debate related to gender, sex, and/or
sexuality that interests you may be addressed.
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• Varied sources of information may be used (e.g.,
psychological, anthropological, sociological, biological,
medical journals and books).
• Length: 10-12 pages, doubled spaced, 12-point Times
New Roman font, 1-inch margins. Note that this does
not include the title page or reference section.
• Weight: 20% of your final grade in the course (80%
content, 20% style).
• Instructions regarding the use of TurnItIn will be
provided in class closer to the due date of the paper.
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Romantic Relationships:
1. Are there sex differences in the experience of love?
(continued)
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Are there sex differences in the experience of love?
(continued)
1. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love (continued)
 As noted last class, Sternberg’s theory identifies 8
types of love based on the presence or absence of
passion, commitment, and intimacy.
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Sternberg’s Taxonomy of Kinds of Love (1986)
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Intimacy
Intimacy
Passion
Commitment
Size of triangle =
Amount of love
Passion
Commitment
Shape of triangle =
Type of love
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 Research has examined sex differences with
respect to Sternberg’s three components of love:
Sternberg, 1997: In romantic and non-romantic
relationships, F > M in intimacy, but F = M in
commitment and passion.
Lemieux and Hale, 1999: In romantic
relationships, F > M in intimacy and commitment,
but F = M in passion. For both sexes, scores on
intimacy, commitment, and passion are related to
relationship satisfaction.
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2. Lee’s Theory of Love Styles
 Maintains that there are (a) three primary love
styles: eros, storge, and ludus, and (b) three blends
of love styles: mania, pragma, agape.
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Agape
EROS
STORGE
Mania
Pragma
LUDUS
Lee’s Theory of Love Styles (Lee, 1973;
Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)
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Lee’s Taxonomy of Love Styles (Lee, 1973;
Hendrick and Hendrick, 1986)
Love Style
Description
Sample Item
Eros
Romantic and passionate
love.
I feel that my lover and I were meant
for each other.
Storge
Friendship love.
It is hard to say exactly where
friendship ends and love begins.
Ludus
Game-playing love.
I try to keep my lover a little uncertain
about my commitment to him or her.
Mania
Manic, dependent, and
possessive love; blend of
eros and ludus.
When I am in love, I have trouble
concentrating on anything else.
Pragma
Practical love; blend of storge
and ludus.
I consider what a person is going to
become in life before I commit myself
to him or her.
Agape
Pure and altruistic love; blend
of eros and storge.
I would endure all things for the sake
of my lover.
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 Research has examined sex differences with
respect to Lee’s love styles:
Hendrick and Hendrick, 2002; Lacey, 2004: F >
M on storge and pragma; M > F on ludus and
agape.
 Research has also examined the correlation
between self-esteem and Lee’s love styles:
Hendrick and Hendrick, 2002: Positive correlation
with eros and ludus; negative correlation with mania;
no correlation with storge, pragma, and agape.
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 Finally, research has examined cultural
differences with respect to Lee’s love styles:
Sprecher et al., 1994: Americans > Japanese and
Russians on eros and storge; Americans <
Japanese and Russians on ludus and mania.
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• In addition to examining sex differences related to
theories of love, researchers have examined sex
differences in beliefs about romantic love.
Sprecher and Metts (1989); Hendrick and Hendrick,
2002
 Used the Romantic Beliefs Scale to assess four
beliefs related to romantic love: love finds a way or
conquers all; there is only one true love for a
person; one’s partner is ideal; one can fall in love at
first sight.
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Sample Items from the Romantic Beliefs Scale
(Sprecher & Metts, 1989)
Belief
Sample Items
Love finds a way.
If I love someone, I will find a way for us to be together regardless of
the opposition to the relationship, physical distance between us or
any other barrier
I expect that in my relationship, romantic love will really last; it won’t
fade with time.
One and only
true love.
There will be only one real love for me.
I believe that to be truly in love is to be in love forever.
Idealization of
partner.
The person I love will make a perfect romantic partner; for example,
he/she will be completely accepting, loving, and understanding.
The relationship I will have with my ‘true love’ will be nearly perfect.
Love at first
sight.
When I find my ‘true love’ I will probably know it soon after we meet.
I am likely to fall in love almost immediately if I meet the right
person.
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 Found that males scored higher than females.
Significant sex differences were found for
idealization of partner and love at first sight.
 Thus, contrary to sex stereotypes, males are more
likely than females to hold romantic notions about
love.
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Romantic Relationships:
1. Are there sex differences in the experience of love?
(continued)
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