SEXUAL ATTITUDES OF MALES AND FEMALES AS PREDICTORS OF INTERPERSONAL-ATTRACTION AND MARITAL COMPATIBILITY

Two investigations examine the effect of similarity of sexual attitude s on (a) attraction to a stranger and (b) marital sexual satisfaction. In an experiment using undergraduates, manipulation of subject-strang er similarity in general affective orientation to sexuality affected a ttraction and other evaluative dependent variables. In the second inve stigation, married couples revealed sexual attitudes and sexual satisf action. Husbands and wives were similar (r = .58, p < .001) in their a ffective orientations to sexuality. Discrepancy between the partners' scores predicted sexual dissatisfaction in both partners. In addition, the wife's affective orientation to sexuality predicted more indices of sexual satisfaction and adjustment in both the wife and the husband than did the husband's affective orientation to sexuality. Finally, s pouses with a positive affective orientation to sexuality were more ac curate when judging their partner's sexual enjoyment, compared to spou ses with a negative orientation. The findings have implications for th e effects of similarity of attitudes on interpersonal attraction and o n relationship quality.