1. Psychology 137C: Intimate Relationships Week 3, Lecture 1: Same-Sex Relationships
Reminders:
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The videos for this week are especially good. Go watch them!
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2. Some numbers
Same-sex couples make up 1% of all households with couples in them
Same-sex couples make up 12% of all households headed by unmarried couples
20% of all same-sex couples are raising children, compared to 48% of all married couples
These are likely to be underestimates

3. Theoretical Issues
Can we studies same-sex and different-sex intimacy in the same course?
What matters most: your gender, or the gender of the people you are attracted to?
Modular psychological mechanisms

4. Methodological Issues
Defining “gay”, “lesbian,” and “straight”
Defining “same sex relationship”
Finding a sample
Choosing a comparison group
Historical changes affect findings

5. Same-Sex Relationships: Evidence for Similarity
Valuing affection and closeness
Egalitarian values
Satisfaction studies
Can outside judges distinguish?

6. Evidence of Differences: Sexuality
Who thinks monogamy is important?
Women: 84% of wives, 70% of cohabitors, and 71% of lesbians.
Men: 75% of husbands, 62% of cohabitors, and 35% of gay men.
This difference has persisted across time.
Sexual frequency
After 10 years, what kind of couples are having most and least sex?
Sexual satisfaction

7. Evidence of Differences: Context
Exposure to discrimination
The challenge of disclosure
Lack of social support

8. Evidence of Differences: Dissolution
Same-sex relationships are more likely to end than marriages. Why might that be?
The case of Norway and Sweden
Why might gay men and lesbians differ here?

9. Gender vs. Orientation Age preferences in mates
Preferences for sex-typical partners
Implications for understanding gender roles