1. Baumeister & Tice Chapter 7
Novelty, Passion, and Intimacy

2. Novelty as Limited Resource
Novelty associated with excitement, arousal
NEW things/partners interesting, fun
1sts very exciting, 2nds less exciting, 3rds less…
Habituation
Limited number of novel sexual acts
Long-term relationships may lose novelty
Sexual passion may fade over time
Passion enhanced by new partners (affairs), behaviors

3. Evidence: Sex & Long-Term Relationships
Negative relationship between years together & sexual f
Blumstein & Schwartz (1983)
~50% newlyweds had sex 3/week, ~20% married 10 years had sex that often
Divorce & remarry -> rise in sexual f
Not just effect of aging
Similar decline for cohabitating couples

4. Evidence Pornography (Mann et al., 1974)
No porn 20% had sex, w/ porn 66% had sex
Response decreased each time they watched
Habituation
Period of avoidance can cause novelty rebound
So how are novelty & passion connected?

5. Passion & Intimacy Intimacy - cognitive
Knowledge, favorable attitude, affection
Passion - emotion & feelings of attraction
How are they related?
Tend to be +rd in surveys
Passion low in long-term relationships (LTR)
Intimacy high
Remarriage increases passion (intimacy low)

6. Passion & Intimacy P = C (dI/dt)
Change in intimacy -> change in passion
As I rises P rises
P = C (dI/dt)
P = passion, I = intimacy, t = time, C = constant
Implies: As I stabilizes P decreases

7. P = C (dI/dt)

8. P = C (dI/dt) Intimacy is a limited resource in LTR
I can only increase so much
After 20 years you know ALL there is to know
So P inevitably goes down because I is stable

9. Gender Differences: C Males have larger C than females P = C (dI/dt)
Function (of I-> P) steeper for males than females
Faster rate of passion rise/unit of intimacy

11. Gender Differences: C Males have larger C than females
More rapid passion w/ less intimacy
Communication problems
Friendliness misunderstood by men as come on
C (small intimacy input, large passion output)
Romantic nature of men
Men score higher on self-report
Fall in love & ready for sex faster
Unrequited love (rejected man most common)

12. Reaction Paper VII: Novelty in Long Term Relationships
Given the loss of novelty & the maximization of intimacy in LTR, are we all doomed to experience passionless love in our LTR?
If so what do you think about this? What other benefits might a LTR accrue for us? Are they worth it or should we have a lifelong string of brief, passion-filled affairs?
Please turn in at end of class

13. Conclusion Passion fades as intimacy becomes stable
LTR inevitably show passion deficit
C is larger for men than women
Men build passion faster w/ less intimacy
Relationship implications
Start slow and go far