To What Extent Do Childhood Interpersonal Relationships Influence Interest in a Potential Partner? An Experimental Study on a Sample of Young Adults

The objective of the present study was to examine the initial stages of partner selection in adulthood and assess the link between childhood interpersonal experiences with parents and the inclination toward intimacy with a potential partner. To achieve this goal, we devised an experimental paradigm to explore the initial mechanisms that guide interest toward one potential partner over another. Subsequently, we conducted a study involving a cohort of young adults (N = 200; aged 18–31) who were single, aiming to investigate their inclination toward intimacy with partners characterised by different internal working models (IWMs) and to assess the correlation with the quality of parent–child relationships during childhood. Additionally, aligning with existing literature and recognising the importance of exploring the moderating effect of sex on these processes, our study included both male and female participants matched by age. The results revealed, for the first time, that the initial propensity for intimacy with a partner is influenced by the interaction of multiple factors, including the partner's internal working model, the individual's internal working model, and their biological sex. The theoretical implications of these findings were discussed.