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Cited by 62Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorAttachment and Relationship DynamicsCultural Differences and Values

Evolutionary Perspectives on Romantic Attachment and Culture: How Ecological Stressors Influence Dismissing Orientations Across Genders and Geographies

Schmitt, David P.·2008·Cross-Cultural Research
DOI 10.1177/1069397108317485
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Abstract

Cultural differences in adult romantic attachment were investigated as part of the International Sexuality Description Project—a survey study of 17,804 people from 56 nations. Evolutionary theories of romantic attachment predicted that dismissing attachment should be associated with high-stress ecological environments. In support of this perspective, dismissing attachment was associated across cultures with relatively few resources, low life expectancy, high child malnutrition, high average temperature, high fertility rate, high teen birthrate, and a high pace of life. Gender differences in dismissing romantic attachment were evident in most cultures, with men generally reporting higher levels of dismissing attachment than women. The degree of gender differentiation in dismissing romantic attachment varied across cultures in evolutionary-predictable ways, with smaller gender differences evident in cultures with high-stress and high-fertility reproductive environments. Discussion focuses on the limitations of the current findings and directions for future evolutionary-informed research on cultural variability in romantic attachment.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1069397108317485

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96 of 96 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Men dismiss or avoid romantic attachment more than women do (SMDs = 0.12-0.18).

    “Moreover, men dismiss or avoid romantic attachment more than women do (SMDs = 0.12–0.18; Del Giudice, 2011; Schmitt, 2008; Schmitt et al., 2003)”

    From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Schmitt, 2008

  • Regarding Attachment, two studies in the old analyses, likely using the same data with different indicators of living conditions, convincingly indicate that the sex differences (males higher) in attachment (dismissing romantic attachment) are larger in countries with higher living conditions.

    “Regarding Attachment, two studies in the old analyses (Schmitt, 2008; Schmitt et al., 2003), likely using the same data with different indicators of living conditions, convincingly indicate that the sex differences (males higher) in attachment (dismissing romantic attachment) are larger in countries with higher living conditions.”

    From A Systematic Review and New Analyses of the Gender-Equality Paradox (2025) · cites this paper as Schmitt, 2008

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Authors
Schmitt, D. P.
Affiliations
Bradley University (US)
Corresponding author
Schmitt, David P.
ORCID
Schmitt, David P.
Venue
Cross-Cultural Research
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2008-04-16
Volume
42
Issue
3
Pages
220-247
ISSN
  • 0094-3673 (ISSN-L)
  • 1069-3971
  • 1552-3578
DOI
10.1177/1069397108317485
OpenAlex
W2048994629
Cited by
62
References
101
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
FWCI
4.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
Cross-Cultural Research (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
Keywords
romantic attachment, dismissing attachment, evolutionary psychology, cultural variation, gender differences, ecological stress, fertility, life expectancy, child malnutrition, pace of life, cross-cultural comparison

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