Abstract
Despite the capacity for being attracted to both sexes, 84% of bisexuals engage in opposite sex relationships. The mechanisms underlying these dating decisions are unclear. The present research explores three possibilities as to why this disparity exists: (1) a desire for sexual reproduction, (2) pressure to conform to social norms, and (3) base rates of the available dating pool. Bisexuals (n = 132) between the ages of 18 and 49 completed an online survey assessing their experiences as a bisexual person, perceptions of reproducing sexually, and their dating habits. Results suggest pressure to conform to heterosexual social norms and the makeup of the available dating pool play a role in bisexuals’ decisions to date the opposite sex.
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Dating Decisions Questionnaire
Appendix 2: Importance of Children Questionnaire
The following questions asks about your attitudes and thoughts towards having children. Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability.
Strongly disagree | Disagree | Neither agree nor disagree | Agree | Strongly agree | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Without children, life is meaningless | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2. I feel I’m breaking tradition by not having children | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
3. It is important that I have my own children | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
4. Having children is the ultimate goal in a romantic relationship | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
5. It is okay if my children are adopted, fostered, etc | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
a6. Children will interfere with my career and social life | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
a7. I’m not sure I want the responsibility of a child for the next 20 years | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
8. Having children will bring me a type of joy that nothing else can bring | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
a9. Having children will have a negative impact on my relationship with my partner | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
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Wu, A.K., Marks, M.J., Young, T.M. et al. Predictors of Bisexual Individuals’ Dating Decisions. Sexuality & Culture 24, 596–612 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09651-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-019-09651-1