Useful Science

http://www.usefulscience.org/podcast/22 This week we're talking about the science of love. Follow us @usefulsci or email us at podcast@usefulscience.org. Show Notes In heterosexual online dating, people pursue partners who are on average 25% more desirable than themselves. The likelihood of receiving a response to a first message decreases when there is a greater difference in desirability. Couples who were instructed by researchers to have more sex increased their sexual frequency but reported reduced happiness and enjoyment of sex. This suggests that more sex does not necessarily lead to greater relationship happiness. The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness: A Procedure and Some Preliminary Findings. (pdf)