Predicting mate retention behaviors from five-factor personality traits: A dyadic approach

Abstract Previous research investigated only the intrapersonal effects of personality traits on mate retention behaviors. The current study is the first to implement a dyadic perspective to explore interpersonal effects of personality traits on mate retention. We investigated actor and partner effects of the five-factor personality traits on mate retention using actor–partner interdependence modeling with data secured from both members of 190 heterosexual romantic couples. In a round-robin design, each participant rated their own and their partner's personality traits, and their own mate retention behaviors. Our results demonstrated the largest actor and partner effects of neuroticism on mate retention, particularly on cost-inflicting behaviors, showing that individuals higher on neuroticism reported their more frequent use. Smaller and opposite effects of agreeableness and conscientiousness were found, with higher levels of these traits related to less frequent use of cost-inflicting behaviors. Several effects of these “Big Three” personality traits generalized across self- and partner-reports, indicating that they were not the artifacts of common method variance. The effects of openness were much weaker and none generalized across both data sources. Extraversion did not demonstrate any significant effects. Discussion comments on limitations of the current research and suggests directions for future research.