Sex Differences in Intimacy Levels in Best Friendships and Romantic Partnerships

Abstract

Objectives Close romantic and friendship relationships are crucial for successful survival and reproduction. Both provide emotional support that can have significant effects on an individual’s health and wellbeing, and through this their longer term survival and fitness. Nonetheless, the factors that create and maintain intimacy in close relationships remain unclear. Nor is it entirely clear what differentiates romantic relationships from friendships in these terms. In this paper, we explore which factors most strongly predict intimacy in these two kinds of relationship, and how these differ between the two sexes. Results Aside from best friendships being highly gendered in both sexes, the dynamics of these two types of relationships differ between the sexes. The intimacy of female relationships was influenced by similarity (homophily) in many more factors (notably dependability, kindness, mutual support, sense of humour) than was the case for men. Some factors had opposite effects in the two sexes: gift-giving had a negative effect on women’s friendships and a positive effect on men’s, whereas shared histories had the opposite effect. Conclusion These results confirm and extend previous findings that the dynamics of male and female relationships are very different in ways that may reflect differences in their functions.

Gender Differences in Social Networks Based on Prevailing Kinship Norms in the Mosuo of China

“…Some hypothesize that male philopatry over human evolutionary history exacerbates these gender differences by providing men greater access to kin (Campbell, 2013; but see Dyble et al, 2015). These hypothesized universal gender differences have generated the following specific predictions: 1. men's social networks will be larger than women's and will include a higher proportion of casual and opportunistic 'weak' ties(e.g., Baumeister & Sommer, 1997;Benenson, 1990;Vigil, 2007); 2. higher quality relationships in women's networks will manifest in more frequent communication ties, whereas higher quality relationships in men's networks will be demonstrated through participation in joint activities (e.g., Pearce et al, 2021;Roberts & Dunbar, 2015); 3. men will show a higher threshold for relationship conflict and will achieve post-conflict reconciliation sooner than women (e.g., Benenson et al, 2018;Benenson & Christakos, 2003;Dunbar & Machin, 2014); 4. men will preferentially socialize in larger and more hierarchically organized groups while women will gravitate towards more intimate, often 'dyadic' relationships (e.g., Baumeister & Sommer, 1997;Benenson, 2019;David-Barrett et al, 2015).…”

The pregnancy compensation hypothesis, not the staying alive theory, accounts for disparate autoimmune functioning of women around the world

“…Benenson et al's findings parallel research that shows females have more intimate and reciprocal interpersonal relationships (Pearce, Machin, & Dunbar, 2021) and rely on a wider array of family and friends for mutual support than males (Conrad & White, 2010;Einolf, 2011). Females are also found to have more positive help-seeking attitudes than males (Mackenzie, Gekoski, & Knox, 2006).…”

“Staying alive” in the context of intimate partner abuse

“…Benenson et al's findings parallel research that shows females have more intimate and reciprocal interpersonal relationships (Pearce, Machin, & Dunbar, 2021) and rely on a wider array of family and friends for mutual support than males (Conrad & White, 2010; Einolf, 2011). Females are also found to have more positive help-seeking attitudes than males (Mackenzie, Gekoski, & Knox, 2006).…”