ABSTRACT
For over a century, researchers have been trying to understand whether people favor similarity in sexual partners, and what determines satisfaction in sexual relationships (Galton, 1869; Mowrer, 1935). Emotions are at the very core of human interaction and relationships; thus, it is no surprise that relationship researchers have begun to investigate the role of the emotion-related skills that comprise emotional intelligence (EI; Mayer & Salovey, 1997). Accumulating evidence suggests that EI, which includes the abilities to perceive emotion, use emotion to facilitate thought, understand emotion, and manage emotion, is important for both relationship satisfaction and partner selection (Brackett, Warner, & Bosco, 2005; Brackett et al., 2006; Carstensen, Gottman, & Levenson, 1995; Carton, Kessler, & Pape, 1999; Fitness, 2001a).
