Altruistic other-orientation in intimate relationships

In this study it was investigated whether men and women differ in the extent to which they are altruistically other-oriented in their intimate heterosexual relationships, and sources of this orientation. Data from married and nonmarried college students suggest that men are more altruistically other-oriented toward their partners than are women. However, when the effects of dependency, gender role traditionalism, and relationship seriousness are considered, gender has no direct effect on altruistic other-orientation. Instead, greater dependency, gender role traditionalism, and relation-ship seriousness encourage individuals to be more altruistic toward their intimate partners.