Heterosexual Romantic Relationships

Human beings have a fundamental need to belong, which is satisfied in part by romantic relationships. Romantic relationships are defined by interdependence, intimacy, and sexual attraction. This entry focuses on factors related to the development and maintenance of romantic relationships between heterosexual men and women and provides an overview of both evolutionary and social learning explanations for heterosexual men’s and women’s attitudes toward and behavior in romantic relationships. For the purposes of this entry, heterosexual men are defined as those who are biologically male, psychologically identify as male, and express sexual interest in women, and heterosexual women are defined as those who are biologically female, psychologically identify as female, and express sexual interest in men.