This study examined factors associated with sexual attraction in close, platonic, cross-sex friendships. Male (n = 83) and female (n = 103) heterosexual undergraduates were surveyed about their relationships with their closest current platonic cross-sex friend. Results suggest that sexual attraction is often present in cross-sex friendships, common to both sexes, and is more frequently evidenced by males. Regression analysis revealed that the variables of sex, loving, previous romantic involvement and the interaction of loving and (bio-logical) sex all accounted for significant amounts of variance in predicting sexual attraction, while liking, relationship duration and current romantic status did not. Loving accounted for the most variance in predicting sexual attraction.
Davis, K.E. & Todd, M.J. (1982) `Friendship and Love Relationships', in K. Davis (ed.) Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 2. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
2.
Davis, K.E. & Todd, M.J. (1986) `The Relationship Rating Form', unpublished questionnaire, University of South Carolina, Columbia.
3.
Hendrick, C. & Hendrick, S. (1986) `A Theory and Method of Love', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology50: 392-402.
4.
Howard, J. & Dawes, R. (1976) `Linear Prediction of Marital Happiness', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology2: 478-480.
5.
Kaplan, D. (1995) `Self-Disclosure and Sexual Attraction in Heterosexual Cross-Sex Platonic Friendships', unpublished MA thesis, University of Illinois, Chicago.
6.
Metts, S. , Cupach, W.R. & Bejlovec, R.A. (1989) `"I Love You too Much to Ever Start Liking You": Redefining Romantic Relationships', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships6: 259-274.
7.
Monsour, M. (1988) `Cross-Sex Friendships in a Changing Society: A Comparative Analysis of Cross-Gender Friendships, Same-Gender Friendships and Romantic Relationships', unpublished PhD thesis, University of Illinois, Champaign.
8.
Monsour, M. (1992) `Meanings of Intimacy in Cross and Same-Gender Friendships', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships9: 277-295.
9.
Monsour, M. , Betty, S. & Kurzweil, N. (1993) `Levels of Perspectives and the Perception of Intimacy in Cross-Gender Friendships: A Balance Theory Explanation of Shared Perceptual Reality', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships10: 529-550.
10.
Monsour, M. , Harris, B., Kurzweil, N. & Beard, C. (1994) `Challenges Confronting Cross-Gender Friendships: "Much ado about nothing?"', Sex Roles31: 55-77.
11.
O'Meara, D.J. (1989) `Cross-Sex Friendship: Four Basic Challenges of an Ignored Relationship', Sex Roles21: 525-543.
12.
O'Meara, D.J. (1994) `Cross-Sex Friendship's Opportunity Challenge: Uncharted Terrain for Exploration', Personal Relationship Issues2: 4-7.
13.
Rawlins, W.K. (1982) `Cross-Sex Friendship and the Communication Management of Sex-Role Expectations', Communication Quarterly30: 343-352.
14.
Rose, S.M. (1985) `Same- and Cross-Gender Friendships and the Psychology of Homosociality', Sex Roles12: 63-74.
15.
Rubin, L. (1985) Just Friends: The Role of Friendship in Our Lives. New York: Harper & Row.
16.
Rubin, Z. (1973) Liking and Loving, an Invitation to Social Psychology. Chicago, IL: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
17.
Sapadin, L. (1988) `Friendship and Gender: Perspectives of Professional Men and Women', Journal of Social and Personal Relationships5: 387-403.
18.
Shaver, P. & Hazan, C. (1993) `Adult Romantic Attachment Theory and Evidence', in K. Bartholomew & D.P. Perlman (eds) Advances in Personal Relationships: Vol. 4. Adult Attachment Relationships. London: Jessica Kingsley.
19.
Shotland, L. & Craig, J. (1988) `Can Men and Women Differentiate between Friendly and Sexually Interested Behavior?', Social Psychology Quarterly51: 66-73.
20.
Simpson, J. (1987) `The Dissolution of Romantic Relationships: Factors Involved in Relationship Stability and Emotional Distress', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology53: 683-692.
21.
Sternberg, R. (1987) `Liking versus Loving: A Comparative Evaluation of Theories', Psychological Bulletin102: 331-345.
22.
Swain, S. (1992) `Men's Friendships with Women: Intimacy, Sexual Boundaries, and the Informant Role', in P. Nardi (ed.) Men's Friendships. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
23.
Walster (Hatfield), E. & Walster, G.W. (1978) A New Look at Love. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
24.
Werking, K. (1994) `Hidden Assumptions: A Critique of Existing Cross-Gender Friendship Research', Personal Relationship Issues2: 4-7.
