Partner-specific investment strategies: Similarities and differences in couples and associations with sociosexual orientation and attachment dimensions

Partner-specific investment (PSI) was explored in a sample of 40 heterosexual couples (mean relationship length = 5.12 years). Analyses of the couples indicated dyad members were moderately accurate in the assessment of each other’s PSI. Differences in PSI were found between dyad members and between sexes with men generally investing significantly more in providing safety and trends towards greater provisioning and sexual access. Associations between PSI and sociosexual orientation and adult attachment were investigated in a larger sample of 107 women. Shorter-term sociosexual orientation was associated with being less future oriented, less expressive and nurturing, more honest and socially attentive and holding similar views about romantic partners’ PSI. Anxious attachment was associated with being less investing and viewing one’s partners as less investing across many strategies. Avoidant attachment moderated the predictive value of anxious attachment and emerged as a strong predictor of investing less in current romantic relationships. Findings are discussed within identified theoretical frameworks.