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How Low Will Men with High Self-Esteem Go? Self-Esteem as a Moderator of Gender Differences in Minimum Relationship Standards

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Abstract

Men tend to establish minimum standards that are similar to those of women for high investment relationships (e.g., marriage) but set lower standards for relationships requiring less investment (e.g., a one-night stand). The purpose of the present study was to examine whether self-esteem moderates these gender differences in minimum standards for romantic relationships. This was accomplished by conducting a cross-sectional study with undergraduate participants (57 men and 124 women) from the southern region of the United States. Participants completed a self-esteem measure and reported their minimum standards for partners across various levels of relational involvement. As predicted, high self-esteem was associated with higher standards for low investment relationships among women but lower standards among men.

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  1. University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive #5025, Hattiesburg, MS, 39406, USA

    Virgil Zeigler-Hill, John W. Campe & Erin M. Myers

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  1. Virgil Zeigler-Hill
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Zeigler-Hill, V., Campe, J.W. & Myers, E.M. How Low Will Men with High Self-Esteem Go? Self-Esteem as a Moderator of Gender Differences in Minimum Relationship Standards. Sex Roles 61, 491–500 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-009-9641-5

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