title: Human affection exchange: VI. Further tests of reproductive probability as a predictor of men's affection with their adult sons.
abstract: The authors examined the communication of affection in men's relationships with their fathers. Drawing from Affection Exchange Theory, the authors advanced four predictions: (a) heterosexual men receive more affection from their own fathers than do homosexual or bisexual men, (b) fathers communicate affection to their sons more through supportive activities than through direct verbal statements or nonverbal gestures, (c) affectionate communication between fathers and sons is linearly related to closeness and interpersonal involvement between them, and (d) fathers' awareness of their sons' sexual orientation is associated with the amount of affection that the fathers communicate to them. Participants were 170 adult men who completed questionnaires regarding affectionate communication in their relationships with their fathers. Half of the men were self-identified as exclusively heterosexual, and the other half were self-identified as exclusively homosexual or bisexual. The results supported all predictions substantially.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Communication, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-1205, USA. kory@asu.edu
authors.forename: Kory
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: Jack E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sargent
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Corcia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory