1,827
Views
7
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

The “How” and “Why” of Flirtatious Communication Between Marital Partners

&
Pages 465-480 | Published online: 11 Sep 2012

References

  • Abbey , A. ( 1982 ). Misperceptions of friendly behavior as sexual interest: A survey of naturally occurring incidents . Psychology of Women Quarterly , 11 , 173 – 194 . doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6402.1987.tb00782.x
  • Abbey , A. , Cozzarelli , C. , McLaughlin , K. , & Harnish , R. J. (1987). The effects of clothing and dyad sex composition on perceptions of sexual intent: Do women and men evaluate these cues differently? Journal of Applied Social Psychology , 17, 108–126. doi: 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1987.tb00304.x
  • Abrahams , M. F. ( 1994 ). Perceiving flirtatious communication: An exploration of the perceptual dimensions underlying judgments of flirtatiousness . Journal of Sex Research , 31 , 283 – 303 . doi: 10.1080/00224499409551763
  • Antill , J. , & Cotton , S. ( 1987 ). Self-disclosure between husbands and wives: Its relationship to sex roles and marital happiness . Australian Journal of Psychology , 39 , 11 – 24 . doi: 10.1080/00049538708259032
  • Aylor , B. , & Dainton , M. ( 2004 ). Biological sex and psychological gender as predictors of routine and strategic relational maintenance . Sex Roles , 50 , 689 – 697 . doi: 10.1023/B:SERS.0000027570.80468.a0
  • Ballard-Reisch , D. ( 1987 ). Relational competence and satisfaction in acquaintance dyads: An exploratory analysis . Journal of the Northwest Communication Association , 15 , 39 – 53 .
  • Browne , M. W. , & Cudeck , R. ( 1993 ). Alternative ways of assessing model fit . In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136 – 162 ). Newbury Park , CA : Sage .
  • Buss , D. M. , & Shackelford , T. K. ( 1997 ). Susceptibility to infidelity in the first year of marriage . Journal of Research in Personality , 31 , 193 – 221 . doi: 10.1006/jrpe.1997.2175
  • Canary , D. J. , & Stafford , L. ( 1992 ). Relational maintenance strategies and equity in marriage . Communication Monographs , 59 , 243 – 267 . doi: 10.1080/03637759209376268
  • Canary , D. J. , Stafford , L. , Hause , K. S. , & Wallace , L. A. ( 1993 ). An inductive analysis of relational maintenance strategies: Comparisons among lovers, relatives, friends, and others . Communication Research Reports , 10 , 3 – 14 . doi: 10.1080/08824099309359913
  • Canary , D. J. , Stafford , L. , & Semic , B. A. ( 2002 ). A panel study of the associations between maintenance strategies and relational characteristics . Journal of Marriage and Family , 64 , 395 – 406 . doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00395.x
  • Dainton , M. ( 2003 ). Equity and uncertainty in relational maintenance . Western Journal of Communication , 67 , 164 – 186 . doi: 10.1080/10570310309374765
  • Dainton , M. , & Aylor , B. ( 2002 ). Patterns of communication channel use in the maintenance of long-distance relationships . Communication Research Reports , 19 , 118 – 129 . doi: 10.1080/08824090209384839
  • Dainton , M. , & Gross , J. ( 2008 ). The use of negative behaviors to maintain relationships . Communication Research Reports , 25 , 179 – 191 . doi: 10.1080/08824090802237600
  • Dainton , M. , & Stafford , L. ( 1993 ). Routine maintenance behaviors: A comparison of relationship type, partner similarity and sex differences . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 10 , 255 – 271 . doi: 10.1177/026540759301000206
  • Dainton , M. , & Stafford , L. ( 2000 ). Predicting maintenance enactment from relational schemata, spousal behavior, and relational characteristics . Communication Research Reports , 17 , 171 – 180 . doi: 10.1080/08824090009388763
  • Dainton , M. , Stafford , L. , & Canary , D. J. ( 1994 ). Maintenance strategies and physical affection as predictors of love, liking, and satisfaction in marriage . Communication Reports , 7 , 88 – 98 . doi: 10.1080/08934219409367591
  • Dindia , K. , & Baxter , L. ( 1987 ). Strategies for maintaining and repairing marital relationships . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 4 , 143 – 158 . doi: 10.1177/0265407587042003
  • Downey , J. L. , & Damhave , K. W. ( 1991 ). The effects of place, type of comment, and effort expended on the perception of flirtation . Journal of Social Behavior and Personality , 6 , 35 – 43 .
  • Downey , J. L. , & Vitulli , W. F. ( 1987 ). Self-report measures of behavioral attributions related to interpersonal flirtation situations . Psychological Reports , 61 , 899 – 904 . doi: 10.2466/pr0.1987.61.3.899
  • Egland , K. L. , Spitzberg , B. H. , & Zormeier , M. M. ( 1996 ). Flirtation and conversational competence in cross-sex platonic and romantic relationships . Communication Reports , 9 , 105 – 117 . doi: 10.1080/08934219609367643
  • Fincham , F. D. , & Beach , S. R. (2006). Relationship satisfaction. In A. L. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of personal relationships (pp. 579–594). New York : Cambridge University Press.
  • Finkenauer , C. , & Hazam , H. ( 2000 ). Disclosure and secrecy in marriage: Do both contribute to marital satisfaction? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 17 , 245 – 264 . doi: 10.1177/0265407500172005
  • Frisby , B. N. ( 2009 ). “Without flirting it wouldn't be a marriage”: The role of flirtatious communication between marital partners . Qualitative Research Reports in Communication , 10 , 55 – 60 . doi: 10.1080/17459430902839066
  • Givens , D. ( 1978 ). The nonverbal basis of attraction: Flirtation, courtship, and seduction . Psychiatry: Journal for the Study of Interpersonal Processes , 41 , 346 – 359 .
  • Greeff , A. P. , & Malherbe , H. L. ( 2001 ). Intimacy and marital satisfaction in spouses . Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy , 27 , 247 – 257 . doi: 10.1080/009262301750257100
  • Guerrero , L. K. , & Chavez , A. M. ( 2005 ). Relational maintenance in cross-sex friendships characterized by different types of romantic intent: An exploratory study . Western Journal of Communication , 69 , 339 – 358 . doi: 10.1080/10570310500305471
  • Hawkins , A. , Blanchard , V. , Baldwin , S. , & Fawcett , E. ( 2008 ). Does marriage and relationship education work? A meta-analytic study . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 76 , 723 – 734 . doi: 10.1037/a0012584
  • Helgeson , V. S. ( 1994 ). Relation of agency and communion to well-being: Evidence and potential explanations . Psychological Bulletin , 116 , 412 – 428 . doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.116.3.412
  • Henningsen , D. D. ( 2004 ). Flirting with meaning: An examination of miscommunication in flirting interactions . Sex Roles , 50 , 481 – 489 . doi: 10.1023/B:SERS.0000023068.49352.4b
  • Henningsen , D. D. , Braz , M. , & Davies , E. ( 2008 ). Why do we flirt? Journal of Business Communication , 45 , 483 – 502 . doi: 10.1177/0021943608319390
  • Henningsen , D. , Henningsen , M. , & Valde , K. ( 2006 ). Gender differences in perceptions of women's sexual interest during cross-sex interactions: An application and extension of cognitive valence theory . Sex Roles , 54 , 821 – 829 . doi: 10.1007/s11199-006-9050-y
  • Hinkle , L. L. ( 1999 ). Nonverbal immediacy communication behaviors and liking in marital relationships . Communication Research Reports , 16 , 81 – 90 . doi: 10.1080/08824099909388704
  • Hu , L. , & Bentler , P. M. ( 1999 ). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives . Structural Equation Modeling , 6 , 1 – 55 . doi: 10.1080/10705519909540118
  • Jacquet , S. E. , & Surra , C. A. ( 2001 ). Parental divorce and premarital couples: Commitment and other relationship characteristics . Journal of Marriage and Family , 63 , 627 – 639 . doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2001.00627.x
  • Johnson , C. B. , Stockdale , M. S. , & Saal , F. E. ( 1991 ). Persistence of men's misperceptions of friendly cues across a variety of interpersonal encounters . Psychology of Women Quarterly , 15 , 463 – 476 . doi: 10.1111/j.1471-6402.1991.tb00421.x
  • Kiecolt-Glaser , J. K. , & Newton , T. L. ( 2001 ). Marriage and health: His and hers . Psychological Bulletin , 127 , 472 – 503 . doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.127.4.472
  • Kurdek , L. A. ( 2002 ). Predicting the timing of separation and marital satisfaction: An eight-year prospective longitudinal study . Journal of Marriage and Family , 64 , 163 – 179 . doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2002.00163.x
  • Litzinger , S. , & Coop-Gordon , K. ( 2005 ). Exploring relationships among communication, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction . Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy , 31 , 409 – 424 . doi: 10.1080/00926230591006719
  • Lund , M. ( 1985 ). The development of investment and commitment scales for predicting continuity of personal relationships . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 2 , 3 – 23 . doi: 10.1177/0265407585021001
  • McCormick , N. B. , & Jones , A. J. (1989). Gender differences in nonverbal flirtation. Journal of Sex Education and Therapy , 15, 271–282.
  • Metts , S. , & Spitzberg , B. H. ( 1996 ). Sexual communication in interpersonal contexts: A script-based approach . Communication Yearbook , 19 , 49 – 91 .
  • Moore , M. ( 1995 ). Courtship signaling and adolescents: “Girls just wanna have fun.” Journal of Sex Research , 32 , 319 – 328 . doi: 10.1080/00224499509551805
  • Norton , R. ( 1983 ). Measuring marital quality: A critical look at the dependent variable . Journal of Marriage and Family , 45 , 141 – 151 .
  • Ragsdale , J. D. ( 1996 ). Gender, satisfaction level, and use of relational maintenance strategies in marriage . Communication Monographs , 63 , 354 – 369 . doi: 10.1080/03637759609376399
  • Ragsdale , J. D. , & Brandau-Brown , F. E. ( 2005 ). Individual differences in the use of relational maintenance strategies in marriage . The Journal of Family Communication , 5 , 61 – 75 . doi: 10.1207/s15327698jfc0501_4
  • Rusbult , C. E. , Coolsen , M. K. , Kirchner , J. L. , & Clarke , J. A. ( 2006 ). Commitment . In A. L. Vangelisti & D. Perlman (Eds.), The Cambridge handbook of personal relationships (pp. 615 – 635 ). New York : Cambridge University Press .
  • Schmitt , D. P. ( 2002 ). A meta-analysis of sex differences in romantic attraction: Do rating contexts moderate tactic effectiveness judgments? British Journal of Social Psychology , 41 , 387 – 403 . doi: 10.1348/014466602760344278
  • Shotland , R. L. , & Craig , J. M. ( 1988 ). Can men and women differentiate between friendly and sexually interested behavior? Social Psychology Quarterly , 51 , 66 – 73 .
  • Sillars , A. L. , & Scott , M. D. ( 1983 ). Interpersonal perception between intimates: An integrative review . Human Communication Research , 10 , 153 – 176 . doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2958.1983.tb00009.x
  • Stafford , L. , & Canary , D. J. ( 1991 ). Maintenance strategies and romantic relationship type, gender, and relational characteristics . Journal of Social and Personal Relationships , 8 , 217 – 242 . doi: 10.1177/0265407591082004
  • Stafford , L. , & Canary , D. J. ( 2006 ). Equity and interdependence as predictors of relational maintenance strategies . The Journal of Family Communication , 6 , 227 – 254 . doi: 10.1207/s15327698jfc0604_1
  • Stafford , L. , Dainton , M. , & Haas , S. ( 2000 ). Measuring routine and strategic relational maintenance: Scale revision, sex versus gender roles, and the prediction of relational characteristics . Communication Monographs , 67 , 306 – 323 . doi: 10.1080/03637750009376512
  • U.S. Department of Health, & Human Services. (2002, July). Cohabitation, marriage, divorce, and remarriage in the United States. Retrieved July 15, 2008, from www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series
  • Vangelisti , A. , & Daly , J. ( 1997 ). Gender differences in standards for romantic relationships . Personal Relationships , 4 , 203 – 219 . doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.1997.tb00140.x
  • Walsh , D. , & Hewitt , J. ( 1985 ). Giving men the come-on: Effect of eye contact and smiling in a bar environment . Perceptual and Motor Skills , 6 , 873 – 874 .
  • Weigel , D. J. ( 2003 ). A communication approach to the construction of commitment in the early years of marriage: A qualitative study . The Journal of Family Communication , 3 , 1 – 19 . doi: 10.1207/S15327698JFC0301_01
  • Weigel , D. J. , & Ballard-Reisch , D. S. ( 2001 ). The impact of relational maintenance behaviors on marital satisfaction: A longitudinal analysis . The Journal of Family Communication , 1 , 265 – 279 . doi: 10.1207/S15327698JFC0104_03
  • Willis Jr. F. N. , & Briggs , L. F. ( 1992 ). Relationship and touch in public settings . Journal of Nonverbal Behavior , 16 , 55 – 63 . doi: 10.1007/BF00986879
  • Yount , K. ( 1991 ). Ladies, flirts, and tomboys: Strategies for managing sexual harassment in an underground coal mine . Journal of Contemporary Ethnography , 19 , 396 – 422 . doi: 10.1177/089124191019004002
  • Zakahi , W. R. ( 1985 ). The relationship of assertiveness to communicative competence and communication satisfaction: A dyadic assessment . Communication Research Reports , 2 , 36 – 40 .

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.