Abstract

The present study administered questionnaires to 271 heterosexual couples and 382 singles (men:214, women: 168) in an attempt to address both status (couple vs. single) and gender differences in individual and relational characteristics of romantic love in adulthood. Regarding status differences, parents of couples in their childhood were judged as more warm and yet less cold and ambivalent relative to those of singles. Couples had a more positive view of self, a more stable attachment style, and higher levels of trust toward and satisfaction with their partners. Couples had higher levels of Eros and Agape and yet lower levels of Ludus than singles. With regard to gender differences, they were small in the trust toward and satisfaction with partners. However, parental child-rearing style tended to be more negative for men than for women. Also, men than women marked a higher score on the secure and a lower scone on the avoidance attachment style. Men had a more positive self concept and higher levels of Eros, Ludus, and Agape and yet lower levels of Pragrna. Overall, interactions between status and gender were not great across measures of variables. These results were discussed in the developmental history of individuals.