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Introduction.
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1. “Myths and Enchantment Tales”Attraction and Disillusionment in Same-Sex Romantic Relationships Carmen Fortes
Diane Felmlee, Ph.D.
David Orzechowicz, Graduate Student
Sociology Department
University of California-Davis
2. Introduction “It begins with an attraction; two people are drawn inexorably to one another and an intimate relationship ensues.”
“More often than not, however, it ends with disillusionment and heartbreak; the relationship does not work out…”
“What happened? What went wrong?”
(Felmlee, 1998)
3. Introduction Recent research explores the social process of fatal attraction, that is, the propensity of individuals to become disillusioned with the qualities that initially attracted them to an intimate partner.
While the existence of fatal attraction is well documented, research almost exclusively uses data about heterosexually-identified individuals and couples.
4. IntroductionDefinition of Fatal Attraction Partner is seen as having “too much” of an attractive quality
Fatal does not mean deadly
Fatal as in “prophetic” or “foretelling a sequence”
This sequence begins with attraction to a partner quality and ends with a disillusionment to that quality.
5. Illustrations of Fatal Attractions(Felmlee, 2001)
6. Purposes of this Research Expand sample to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered (LGBT) individuals
Examine illustrations of fatal attraction in LGBT responses to open-ended questions and compare them with previous research
Possibility of expanding theory to new types of fatal attraction
Give “voice” to an understudied population
7. Hypothesis Fatal attractions will be found in same-sex relationships.
This will support the idea that these relationships are comparable to heterosexual relationships, even though American culture constructs LGBT relationships as deviant, and assigns them different labels.
8. Background Information Research on same-sex romantic relationships has been limited
Homosexuality was seen as deviant behavior and listed as mental disorder by the APA until 1973
In a recent Gallup Poll (2003), when asked whether same-sex relations between consenting adults should be legal, 46 % of respondents said “No” - USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-07-28-poll_x.htm
9. Background Information Close personal relationships provide meaning (Klinger, 1977)
Dyads are central to interpersonal relationships – A dyadic consciousness emerges as a relationship develops (Wilmot, 1999)
Over time, a couple may discover disturbing aspects of the other’s behavior or personality: Fatal Attraction (Felmlee, 2001)
10. Theory Virtues & Vices are one in the same “Her strengths are her weaknesses.”
Opposing Relationship Forces
- Dialectical Theory
(Baxter & Montgomery 1996)
1. Autonomy vs. connectedness
2. Openness vs. closedness
3. Novelty vs. predictability
11. Materials & Methods Questionnaire: “Attraction in Romantic Relationships”
Administered to adult volunteer participants at the June 2005 Sacramento Pride Fair, a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered (LGBT) public event
112 Respondents
Open and close-ended questions
12. Research Design Describe the specific qualities that first attracted you to that individual.
What are (were) the specific qualities about that individual that you find (found) least attractive?
13. Research Design To what extent were you first attracted to the following quality in your partner?
To what extent do you possess the following quality?
To what extent does your partner possess too little or too much of the following quality?
14. Research Design
15. Research Design
16. Research Design
17. Research Design
18. Summary of Results
19. Summary of Results
20. Summary of Preliminary Findings Cases of fatal attraction in the open-ended comments of these respondents
Fatal attractions occur among both males and females in the data set
Evidence of contradicting forces
21. Discussion Fatal attraction is not limited to heterosexual couples
Fatal attractions in the LGBT population may have unique qualities.
22. Next Steps Quantitative Analysis, etc.
Analysis of unique LGBT fatal attractions
23. References Baxter, Leslie A. and Barbara M. Montgomery. (1996). Relating: Dialogues and Dialectics. New York: Gifford Press.
Felmlee, Diane H. (2001). “From Appealing to Appalling: Disenchantment with a Romantic Partner.” Sociological Perspectives. 44:263-280.
Felmlee, D. (1998). “Fatal attraction.” In B. H. Spitzberg & W. R. Cupach (Eds.), The Dark Side of Close Relationships. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Klinger, E. (1977). Meaning and void: Inner experiences and the incentives in people’s lives. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.
Wilmot, W.W. (1999). Relational communication. New York: McGraw-Hill.
24. Acknowledgements Ronald E. McNair Scholars Research Program
Faculty Mentor: Diane Felmlee, Ph.D.
David Orzechowicz, Graduate Student
McNair Advisor: Ellen Robert, Ph.D.
The Staff and Students of UC Davis McNair Scholars Program
25. “Myths and Enchantment Tales”Attraction and Disillusionment in Same-Sex Romantic Relationships Carmen Fortes
Diane Felmlee, Ph.D.
David Orzechowicz, Graduate Student
Sociology Department
University of California-Davis