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The Three Faces of Love: College Students' Perception of the Spouse, Date and Cross-sex Friend

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  • Jayanti Basu

    (Department of Applied Psychology, Calcutta University, India)

  • Rajyasri Ray

    (Department of Psychology, Calcutta University, India)

Abstract

The present article explored the perception of spouse, date and cross-sex friend among the college-going youth. Six demographical, 14 physical and 25 psychological characteristics were selected from a larger number of traits generated in a preliminary study on 200 college students. In the final study these traits were presented to 240 college students who rated them in terms of their desirability in either a spouse, or a date or a cross-sex friend. Responses to the demographical variables were obtained on a multiple-choice response format with qualitative categories. The physical and psychological characteristics were assessed through responses to the items on five-point Likert-type scale. Results indicated that women put greater emphasis on demographical features and psychological characteristics, while men emphasised physical traits. Perception of the wife by the men was a combination of sex object and nurturing object, while a date was a companion without much commitment. For the women a husband and a date possessed overlapping characteristics, dates having greater sexual appeal. Cross-sex friends for both sexes shared some characteristics of spouse and date in less intensity. Results have been interpreted in terms of the evolutionary versus learning model of love.

Suggested Citation

  • Jayanti Basu & Rajyasri Ray, 2000. "The Three Faces of Love: College Students' Perception of the Spouse, Date and Cross-sex Friend," Psychology and Developing Societies, , vol. 12(2), pages 177-213, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:psydev:v:12:y:2000:i:2:p:177-213
    DOI: 10.1177/097133360001200205
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