Predicting Responses to Conflicts in Romantic Relationships from Life History Strategies, Psychopathy, and Values

This study aimed to test the predictive power of individual differences in life history strategies (HS) on responses to conflicts in romantic relationships in a Brazilian sample (N = 251). Additionally, we investigated the moderator role of psychopathy and endorsement of basic values in the relationship between life HS and responses to conflicts. The results showed that fast HS (vs. slow HS) predicted less constructive responses to conflict. In addition, the psychopathy trait and interactive values moderated the relationship between the fast HS and destructive responses to conflicts: when medium and high on psychopathy, individuals employ more destructive responses. In turn, when medium and high on interactive values, individuals respond less destructively to conflict. Overall, these empirical findings are theoretically sound within evolutionary assumptions. In conclusion, the current results support that individual differences in life HS may predict relationship outcomes. In addition, this study adds to the literature on romantic relationships by connecting individual variables like personality and human values to evolutionary hypotheses for the understanding of romantic interactions.