The limited influence of self-monitoring on romantic partner preferences

This research sought to clarify the influence of self-monitoring on romantic partner preferences. Participants rated the importance of several personal qualities for a short-term and a long-term partner on lists that were presented in a counterbalanced order. Then participants completed the self-monitoring scale. Eight dimensions of romantic partner preferences were identified: Fidelity, Dependability, Vitality, Spiritual Values, Creativity, Attractiveness, Good Parenting, and Status-Wealth. Consistent with parental investment theory, some sex-differences in qualities preferred in a romantic relationship partner were found. When the effect of one’s sex was not controlled statistically, self-monitoring correlated positively with the importance of attractiveness-related characteristics in a romantic partner. After controlling for the effects of sex, no self-monitoring influences on the eight dimensions of romantic partner preferences were found. Implications for the continued use of self-monitoring in social-personality research are discussed.