This article reviews the research literature and theory concerned with accuracy of judgments in romantic relationships. We initially propose a model of cognition in (romantic) relationships that distinguishes between 2 forms of accuracy: mean-level bias and tracking accuracy. We then report the results of meta-analyses of research on heterosexual, romantic relationships, which used external benchmarks and reported levels of tracking accuracy (98 studies) and/or mean-level bias (48 studies). The results revealed robust overall effect sizes for both tracking accuracy (r ϭ .47) and positive mean-level bias (r ϭ .09). As expected, the effects were substantial and positive for tracking accuracy across 6 judgmental categories, whereas signed mean-level bias was negative for the interaction attributions (e.g., love, communication). The results showed, as expected, that these 2 forms of accuracy were independent-the 2 kinds of effect size derived from the same set of 38 studies were uncorrelated. As expected, gender, relationship length, and relationship evaluations moderated mean-level bias across studies but (unexpectedly) not for tracking accuracy. In the Discussion we evaluate the prior model in light of the findings, other research, moderating variables (such as self-esteem), the role of projection, the early stages of mate selection, metacognition, and the rationality and nature of motivated cognition. We conclude that our model, findings, and analyses help to resolve the apparent paradox that love is both riven with illusions and rooted in reality, and support both evolutionary and social psychological approaches to understanding cognition in romantic relationships.

In the current study, opposite-sex strangers had 10-min conversations with a possible further date in mind. Based on judgments from partners and observers, three main findings were produced. First, judgments of attractiveness/vitality perceptions (compared with warmth/trustworthiness and status/resources) were the most accurate and were predominant in influencing romantic interest and decisions about further contact. Second, women were more cautious and choosy than men-women underestimated their partner's romantic interest, whereas men exaggerated it, and women were less likely to want further contact. Third, a mediational model found that women (compared with men) were less likely to want further contact because they perceived their partners as possessing less attractiveness/vitality and as falling shorter of their minimum standards of attractiveness/vitality, thus generating lower romantic interest. These novel results are discussed in terms of the mixed findings from prior research, evolutionary psychology, and the functionality of lay psychology in early mate-selection contexts.

No abstract

An electronic freight theft management system has recently been developed by the Center for Advanced Transportation Systems Simulation. The system was designed to be a comprehensive online application for the reporting, documentation, and warehousing of information on intermodal freight theft and related occurrences. A hierarchical database structure is the foundation for data capture, storage, and retrieval. System deployment is intended to benefit conglomerate corporations, independent sole proprietor commercial vehicle operators, and law enforcement agencies. The online system can be used to assist law enforcement in prioritizing theft investigations or recovery operations by the significance level of the stolen cargo. If deployed nationally, it would offer criminal investigation officers a universal freight theft data system with interjurisdictional application and versatility to assist in cross-reference of available data through any available Internet connection and web browser. The system has been structured to allow application of data mining techniques to the database. The system has simplicity and scalability without loss of performance and has built-in alerts to identify stolen commodities that pose a possible threat to national homeland security. A system for Florida law enforcement has been designed and deployed. The new web-based system replaced the previous paper-based system that used a fax machine to distribute theft reports. The new system distributes reports and bulletins electronically via automated e-mails. This enhancement is projected to reduce response time significantly, provide greater accessibility to available data for officers, and increase the ability to provide more accurate theft recovery information.

No abstract