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Behavioral Sciences
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Psychological Research on Sexual and Social Relationships
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Psychological Research on Sexual and Social Relationships

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 14 May 2025 | Viewed by 2671

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Chiara Rollero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, University of Turin, ‎10124 Turin, Italy
Interests: social psychology; gender studies; stereotypes and prejudice; violence; mass media and social influence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the advent of technology has led to critical transformations in the way individuals communicate, connect, and sexually interact with each other. This is particularly true in the case of adolescents and young adults, whose perception of sexual and social relationships strongly presents the daily exploitation of technological tools, the common use of social media, and the autonomous access to a wide range of information on topics such as sexual health, intimacy, emotions, and body changes. The discussion on these issues in the institutional and public debates has contributed to raising awareness on subjects that were previously highly stigmatized, i.e., gender identities, non-heterosexual relationships, and female sexuality. On the other side, people’s attitudes toward intimate and social relationships are still significantly influenced by gender stereotypes, sexual scripts, and prejudices about “non-normative” identities, especially when it comes to the perception and the perpetration of abusive behaviors. Given the power of mass media in shaping users’ expectations, as well as the several changes previously mentioned about people’s understanding of sexual and social relationships, exploring such issues from a psychological perspective is noteworthy.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a scholarly space for studies that focus on these processes. This includes but is not limited to research on the following:

  • The role of psychosocial factors on sexual and social relationships;
  • The effect of technology on sexual, romantic, and social relationships;
  • Abusive behaviors in sexual and social relationships, even in the online context;
  • Factors affecting individuals’ wellbeing in the context of social relationships;
  • The influence of the broader social context on relationships for members of stigmatized groups;
  • Social vulnerability in online and offline contexts.

Prof. Dr. Chiara Rollero
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Behavioral Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wellbeing in social relationships
  • intimate relationships
  • gender stereotypes
  • social media
  • sexual abuse
  • intimate partner violence
  • homosociality

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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17 pages, 620 KiB  
Article
Associations Among Beliefs Supporting Patriarchal Principles, Conflict Avoidance, and Economic Violence in Intimate-Partner Relationships of Ultra-Orthodox Jews
by Ruth Berkowitz, David Mehlhausen-Hassoen and Zeev Winstok
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1114; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111114 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 284
Abstract
Beliefs that uphold patriarchal principles may influence individuals’ willingness to avoid conflict in their intimate-partner relationships, which can, in turn, increase the likelihood of intimate-partner economic violence. However, these associations remain underexplored in current research. This study examines these dynamics within a sample [...] Read more.
Beliefs that uphold patriarchal principles may influence individuals’ willingness to avoid conflict in their intimate-partner relationships, which can, in turn, increase the likelihood of intimate-partner economic violence. However, these associations remain underexplored in current research. This study examines these dynamics within a sample of 321 adults from the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community—a patriarchal and traditional culture. Specifically, it examines associations among beliefs supporting patriarchal principles at the micro (gendered domestic roles), meso, and macro (institutional power of men and the inherent inferiority of women) levels; conflict avoidance; economic violence; and sex differences in these factors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sex differences in the study variables, and path analysis was used to examine the correlations between research variables for men and women. The findings indicate that beliefs in patriarchal ideologies were moderate across all levels but slightly higher among men. Men were significantly more likely than women to avoid conflict with their intimate partners. Beliefs in support of patriarchal ideologies were predictive of conflict avoidance, particularly among women. Contrary to prior research, this study revealed nonsignificant sex differences in the prevalence of economic-violence victimization. These findings, however, do not negate the role of sex-based dynamics in economic-violence victimization. We discuss the findings and the meanings assigned to conflict avoidance by men and women, while considering gender disparities of power and control. We suggest that men’s tendency to avoid conflict likely moderated their likelihood of perpetrating economic violence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Research on Sexual and Social Relationships)
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11 pages, 425 KiB  
Article
Teacher Violence and Student Wellbeing in Rural Sierra Leone: Longitudinal Dynamics Across Primary Schooling
by Giulio D’Urso, Jennifer Symonds, Seaneen Sloan, Daniel Capistrano, Elena Samonova, Dympna Devine and Ciaran Sugrue
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111106 - 18 Nov 2024
Viewed by 604
Abstract
This study explored the longitudinal dynamics of teacher violence and student wellbeing in rural Sierra Leone, West Africa. The participants, totaling 3170 children with an age range of 5 years to 11 years, were cluster-sampled from a large geographic area to ensure gender [...] Read more.
This study explored the longitudinal dynamics of teacher violence and student wellbeing in rural Sierra Leone, West Africa. The participants, totaling 3170 children with an age range of 5 years to 11 years, were cluster-sampled from a large geographic area to ensure gender balance and representation from diverse linguistic backgrounds and religious affiliations. They were drawn from the Safe Learning Study, which spanned over 5 years and involved 100 schools in rural Sierra Leone. Data collection took place in four waves from November 2018 to May 2021. Participants completed self-report questionnaires pertaining to psychological wellbeing and experiences of violence from teachers. The study employed a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RICLPM) to examine the relationship between violence and mental health across waves. Across children, a relationship between teacher violence and student wellbeing was observed over time. However, for individual children, higher wellbeing predicted lower instances of violence, and vice versa, although to a weak extent. These findings highlight the complex interplay between violence and wellbeing within the cultural sample. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of the social dynamics surrounding violence and wellbeing, informing targeted interventions and policy initiatives aimed at creating safer and healthier environments for at-risk populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Research on Sexual and Social Relationships)
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14 pages, 1270 KiB  
Article
Young Bedouin-Arab Men’s Ego and Pride: Do Traditional Masculinity and Positive Attitudes Toward Polygyny Shape Responses to a Wife’s Refusal?
by Avi Besser, Virgil Zeigler-Hill and Nuzha Allassad Alhuzail
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111081 - 12 Nov 2024
Viewed by 470
Abstract
Cultural traditions in Israel’s Bedouin-Arab community encourage and permit men to take up to four wives, a practice supported by Islamic teachings. Despite legal prohibitions against polygyny in Israel, such marriages remain common and have profound effects on women, children, and broader society. [...] Read more.
Cultural traditions in Israel’s Bedouin-Arab community encourage and permit men to take up to four wives, a practice supported by Islamic teachings. Despite legal prohibitions against polygyny in Israel, such marriages remain common and have profound effects on women, children, and broader society. This study explores how traditional notions of masculinity and positive attitudes toward polygyny influence young Bedouin men’s reactions to a hypothetical scenario in which their wife refuses to accept a polygynous marriage as a threat to men’s ego and pride. The sample consisted of 459 young, unmarried Israeli Bedouin-Arab men, aged 16 to 25, a demographic frequently under family pressure to marry, making the issue of marriage highly relevant. We hypothesized that traditional masculinity and favorable attitudes toward polygyny would be positively associated with heightened perceptions of ego and pride threats in response to a wife’s refusal. Participants were randomly assigned to imagine either their wife refusing a polygynous arrangement (n = 228) or accepting a polygynous arrangement (n = 231) and then reporting their anticipated emotional responses. The results showed that traditional masculinity was linked to positive attitudes toward polygyny, and both were significantly associated with increased perceptions of ego and pride threats in the refusal scenario but not in the acceptance scenario. The findings suggest that men with strong masculine identities and favorable views of polygyny are especially vulnerable to feeling threatened by a wife’s refusal. This supports social construction theory and underscores the role of cultural norms in shaping emotional responses. The discussion highlights the psychological impacts of polygyny in patriarchal societies and calls for culturally sensitive interventions that challenge traditional norms while fostering psychological resilience and gender equality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Research on Sexual and Social Relationships)
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12 pages, 256 KiB  
Article
Conceptions of Consensual versus Non-Consensual Sexual Activity among Young People from Colombia
by Luis Enrique Prieto and Nieves Moyano
Behav. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14100884 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 856
Abstract
Conceptions or ideas that couples hold about sexual consent could be a key factor in their communication, mutual respect, and the prevention of sexual violence. The multifaceted nature of sexual consent makes it a complex concept. The aim of the present study was [...] Read more.
Conceptions or ideas that couples hold about sexual consent could be a key factor in their communication, mutual respect, and the prevention of sexual violence. The multifaceted nature of sexual consent makes it a complex concept. The aim of the present study was to explore individuals’ ideas and understanding of sexual intercourse in two distinct contexts: consensual and non-consensual. We used a qualitative approach, adopting the methodology of thematic analysis. In total, 113 surveys obtained from the general population (76.1% women and 23.9% men aged 18 to 59 years) were studied. Two open-ended questions were asked about the general topic of sexual consent, where we distinguished sexual activity in which there is sexual consent vs. no consent. The phases of the thematic analysis approach were applied. For the consensual context, the following themes emerged: mutual reciprocity and respect; open, clear communication and agreements; and awareness and emotional well-being. For the non-consensual context, the following themes emerged: violence and sexual assault, absence and ambiguity of sexual consent, and lack of communication. All of these aspects should be considered in couples’ communication and sexual education to facilitate and improve sexual relationships and, in turn, prevent violence and sexual aggression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychological Research on Sexual and Social Relationships)
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