Fatal Suppression

The attachment and sexual systems operate jointly across partners to affect relationship outcomes. In the present longitudinal investigation of newly dating couples, we tested a dual deactivation hypothesis of relationship dissatisfaction. According to this hypothesis, individuals whose sexual system is chronically deactivated are expected to experience low relationship satisfaction early in their relationships. Their satisfaction should increase with time, but only if their partners are low in attachment avoidance. Newly dating couples (2–4 months; N = 62) completed three waves of individual measures of attachment and sexual deactivation and relationship satisfaction in 4-month intervals. Dyadic growth curves showed that sexual deactivation was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction in the beginning of the relationship. This negative effect gradually disappeared among individuals whose partners were low in attachment avoidance, but persisted among individuals with avoidantly attached partners. These findings suggest that attachment processes can compensate for sexual difficulties

Developmental psychology · Human sexuality · Longitudinal study · Sexual relationship · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Communication · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology · Sexual function and dysfunction studies · Social Psychology

• Attachment, Internalized Homonegativity, and Depressive Symptoms in Chilean Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Emerging Adults

  Open Access•Mónica Guzmán-González, Rodrigo Moya-Vergara et al.•Journal of Homosexuality•2026

  Incluir item

• Make It or Break It? Pregnancy Scares and Romantic Relationship Dissolution

  Open Access•L Newmyer, T Yabiku•Demography•2025

  Incluir item

• Reassuring sex

  Open Access•Moran Mizrahi, Gilad Hirschberger et al.•European Journal of Social…•2016

  Incluir item

• When insecurity dampens desire

  Open Access•Moran Mizrahi, H T Reis et al.•European Journal of Social…•2019

  Incluir item

• The Effects of Mindfulness on Sexual Outcomes

  Open Access•Christopher A Pepping, Timothy J Cronin et al.•Archives of Sexual Behavior•2018

  Incluir item

• You haven't been on my mind lately

  Open Access•Moran Mizrahi, Yaniv Kanat-Maymon et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2018

  Incluir item

• Attachment tendencies and sexual activities

  Open Access•Nicolas Favez, Hervé Tissot•Journal of Social and Personal…•2017

  Incluir item

• Sexuality in Close Relationships

  Kathleen Mckinney, Susan Sprecher•Sexuality in Close Relationships•2014

  Incluir item

• A triangular theory of love.

  Robert J Sternberg•Psychological Review•1986

  Incluir item

• Working Models of Attachment, Support Giving, and Support Seeking in a Stressful Situation

  Open Access•Jeffry A Simpson, W Steven Rholes et al.•Personality and Social Psychology…•2002

  Incluir item

• What does sexual orientation orient? A biobehavioral model distinguishing romantic love and sexual desire.

  Lisa M Diamond•Psychological Review•2003

  Incluir item

• Adult Attachment Orientations, Stress, and Romantic Relationships

  Jeffry A Simpson, W Steven Rholes•Advances in experimental social…•2012

  Incluir item

• Attachment Style and Subjective Motivations for Sex

  Open Access•Deborah Davis, P R Shaver et al.•Personality and Social Psychology…•2004

  Incluir item

• Relationship Duration Moderates Associations Between Attachment and Relationship Quality

  Open Access•Benjamin W Hadden, C Veronica Smith et al.•Personality and Social Psychology…•2014

  Incluir item

• The Attachment Behavioral System In Adulthood

  Mario Mikulincer, P R Shaver•Advances in Experimental Social…•2003

  Incluir item

• Frequent Sex Protects Intimates From the Negative Implications of Their Neuroticism

  Open Access•V Michelle Russell, James K Mcnulty•Social Psychological and…•2011

  Incluir item

• Attachment and Loss. Vol. 1. Attachment

  GEORGE W REVER•Psychosomatic Medicine•1972

  Incluir item

• Cultural and ethnic influences on love and attachment

  Open Access•R William Doherty, Elaine Hatfield et al.•Personal Relationships•1994

  Incluir item

• Gender and working models of attachment

  Open Access•Paula R Pietromonaco, Katherine B Carnelley•Personal Relationships•1994

  Incluir item

• Attachment styles and other predictors of relationship satisfaction in dating couples

  Open Access•Jennifer T Jones, John D Cunningham•Personal Relationships•1996

  Incluir item

• Misguided attraction

  Open Access•Ohad Szepsenwol, Mario Mikulincer et al.•Journal of Research in Personality•2013

  Incluir item

• Support seeking and support giving within couples in an anxiety-provoking situation

  Jeffry A Simpson, W Steven Rholes et al.•Journal of Personality and Social…•1992

  Incluir item

• When sex is more than just sex

  Gurit E Birnbaum, H T Reis et al.•Journal of Personality and Social…•2006

  Incluir item

• Predictors of caregiving in adult intimate relationships

  Brooke C Feeney, Nancy L Collins•Journal of Personality and Social…•2001

  Incluir item

• Adult attachment style and individual differences in functional versus dysfunctional experiences of anger

  Mario Mikulincer•Journal of Personality and Social…•1998

  Incluir item

• When sex goes wrong

  Gurit E Birnbaum, Mario Mikulincer et al.•Journal of Personality and Social…•2014

  Incluir item

• Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process

  Cindy Hazan, P R Shaver et al.•Journal of Personality and Social…•1987

  Incluir item

• Lust, attraction, and attachment in mammalian reproduction

  Open Access•Helen E Fisher, Helen Fisher•Human Nature•1998

  Incluir item

• Gender differences in erotic plasticity

  Roy F Baumeister, Sasha D Pack•Psychological Bulletin•2000

  Incluir item

• The Relationship Assessment Scale

  Open Access•Susan S Hendrick, Amy Dicke et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•1998

  Incluir item

• Bound to interact

  Open Access•Gurit E Birnbaum•Journal of Social and Personal…•2010

  Incluir item

• Hurt Feelings in Couple Relationships

  Open Access•Judith A Feeney•Journal of Social and Personal…•2004

  Incluir item

• Attachment orientations, sexual functioning, and relationship satisfaction in a community sample of women

  Open Access•Gurit E Birnbaum•Journal of Social and Personal…•2007

  Incluir item

• Desire under attack

  Open Access•Gurit E Birnbaum, Yanna J Weisberg et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•2011

  Incluir item

• Optimism about Love Relationships

  Open Access•Katherine B Carnelley, Ronnie Janoff‐bulman et al.•Journal of Social and Personal…•1992

  Incluir item

• Passionate and Companionate Love in Courting and Young Married Couples

  Open Access•Sprecher, Susan Sprecher et al.•Sociological Inquiry•1998

  Incluir item