The primary aim of the proposed study is to understand how individuals’ reports of attitudes towards mate selection change over a period of 1,095 days or approximately a three-year period. The secondary aim is to identify significant differences in the attitude about mate selection among four groups of religion: Islam, Buddhist, Christian and Hindu. The findings from this study would provide a strategy for the establishment of educational and counselling programs.
The research questions are:
What variables in attitudes about mate selection continue to evolve among the four groups of religions?
How do the four groups of religion vary in their attitudes about mate selection over time?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Literature review
2.1 Evolutionary perspective
2.2 Developmental perspective
2.3 Social networks influence
2.4 Relationship myths and attitude about mate selection
3. Mate preference in Malaysia
4. Hypothesis
5. Methodology
5.1 Design
5.2 Participants
5.3 Materials
5.4 Procedures
5.5 Data Analysis
5.6 Ethical consideration
5.7 Implication and Application
Research Objectives and Focus
The primary aim of this study is to investigate how individual attitudes regarding romantic mate selection evolve over a three-year longitudinal period among university students, while also identifying significant variations across four distinct religious groups in Malaysia.
- Examination of longitudinal changes in romantic beliefs over 1,095 days.
- Comparative analysis of mate selection attitudes across Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, and Hindu demographics.
- Evaluation of unrealistic romantic beliefs using the AARMSS (Attitudes About Romance and Mate Selection Scale).
- Assessment of the impact of social and cultural factors on mate preference formation.
Excerpt from the Book
Relationship myths and attitude about mate selection
According to Larson (2000), myths about romantic relationship are beliefs that are perceived to be true but do not hold any real substance or fact about someone or something. Attitudes and beliefs are acquired from childhood, personal experiences and social norms (Fletcher, Thomas & Simpson, 2000). Poor emotional, social interaction and social adjustment can have devastating effect on the formation of attitude and self- esteem in adult attachment (Hazan & Shaver, 1987). According to McIntosh (2000), unrealistic believes can constrain individuals from making a rational decision on mate selection. Dennison and Koerner (2008) found that adolescents from divorced families are more likely to relate marriage to unhappiness and fear getting married. The study recruited two hundred thirty eight adolescents who responded to two open-ended questions with regards to their hopes and fears about their own marriage (Dennison & Koerner, 2008). Zusman and Knox (1998), indicated that young adults find the process of choosing a prospective partner complicating. There is a large volume of literatures describing the impact of unrealistic beliefs, feelings and attitudes while searching prospective life partners (McIntosh, 2000; Caldwell & Woolley, 2008; Dennison & Koerner, 2008; Langlois et al., 2000). These studies describe unrealistic romantic attitudes are more likely to contribute to relationship dissatisfaction, disappointment and break-ups.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter establishes the importance of studying myths and attitudes regarding mate selection due to their impact on relationship satisfaction and decision-making.
Literature review: This section provides a theoretical foundation by covering evolutionary, developmental, and social network perspectives on how romantic preferences and beliefs are formed.
Mate preference in Malaysia: This chapter reviews the demographic context of Malaysia's multi-faith society and highlights the lack of empirical research on personal romantic beliefs in the region.
Hypothesis: This section outlines the core research questions concerning the evolution of mate selection variables and religious variations over time.
Methodology: This chapter details the research design, including the longitudinal approach using the AARMSS questionnaire with 400 undergraduate participants over three years.
Keywords
Mate selection, romantic relationships, longitudinal study, Malaysia, religious groups, AARMSS, unrealistic beliefs, evolutionary perspective, developmental perspective, social networks, marriage, undergraduate students, relationship myths, cultural influence, mate preference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research study?
The study investigates the development and longitudinal change of attitudes and beliefs regarding romantic mate selection among university students in Malaysia.
Which thematic areas are primarily addressed?
The research covers evolutionary biology, developmental psychology, the influence of social networks, and the prevalence of romantic myths in partner selection.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The main goal is to observe how romantic attitudes change over a period of three years and to identify differences in these attitudes among four major religious groups.
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The study employs a longitudinal design with repeated measures, surveying participants every six months using the Attitudes About Romance and Mate Selection Scale (AARMSS).
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines existing literature on mate selection, the specific demographic landscape of Malaysia, and the detailed methodology used to collect and analyze the longitudinal data.
Which keywords define this research?
Key terms include mate selection, longitudinal study, romantic myths, Malaysia, religious influence, and the AARMSS assessment tool.
Why was the AARMSS questionnaire chosen for this study?
It was selected because it is a proven instrument capable of identifying and measuring seven specific sub-components of unrealistic or constraining romantic beliefs.
How does the cultural context of Malaysia impact the study?
Malaysia's multi-faith and traditional society provides a unique setting to test how cultural and religious environments shape mate selection behavior differently than in Western individualistic cultures.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Raja Sree R Subramaniam (Autor:in), 2013, Changes in Attitude to Mate Selection. A Three-Year Study of Undergraduates’ Attitudes about Romantic Partners, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313309
