A person's temperament is often characterized by their tendency to react to certain stimuli.
Some people are more likely to be calm and composed when they encounter an unpleasant situation while others may respond with anger and aggression. Similarly, individuals' interpersonal dynamics can vary widely depending on how they handle conflicts and express desires within their romantic relationship. One aspect that plays a significant role in this context is how well partners communicate and negotiate with one another regarding their sexual needs and preferences. In recent years, researchers have explored the influence of personality traits on these processes to gain insights into what makes them work better for some couples than others. This review will summarize key findings from studies examining the link between personality types, sexual conflict resolution strategies, desire expression styles, and relational satisfaction levels.
Temperament as a predictor of conflict resolution in intimate relationships
Personality has been linked to different patterns of conflict resolution. Specifically, extroverts tend to engage in more active problem-solving strategies compared to introverts who are more prone to avoidance tactics (Paschall & Sussman, 2018). Introverts also tend to display less emotional self-regulation during conflicts, which can lead to greater escalation of negative feelings and poorer communication quality (Hazan & Shaver, 2016). These differences may manifest differently in the sexual domain since sex typically involves intense emotions and vulnerability.
Research has found inconsistent results about whether particular temperament types predominate in conflict resolution in sexual contexts.
While neuroticism was associated with increased sexual conflict among same-sex couples (Baumeister et al., 2003), it was not related to sexual conflict or compromise in heterosexual unions (Ramirez & Cohan, 2015). Therefore, further investigations are needed to clarify how personality plays out in specific situations.
Desire expression and attraction to partners
Attraction is often based on physical appearance and shared interests; however, personality traits can influence how people experience their partner's desires. Extroverts tend to be more open to experimenting and trying new things than introverts (Lee, 2019). This difference could be due to the former's higher sensitivity to novelty and willingness to explore beyond what is familiar.
Extraversion was not linked to sexual desire levels or satisfaction in a sample of older adults (Taylor et al., 2017). The lack of relationship between these variables suggests that other factors play a role in sexual desire such as physiological changes that occur during arousal or hormonal fluctuations caused by aging.
Ambiverts—people who exhibit both extroverted and introverted characteristics—may have an advantage over pure extroverts when negotiating sexual needs because they strike a balance between expressiveness and reserve (Mills et al., 2018).
Further research is needed to test this possibility more extensively across different age groups and cultures.
Relational satisfaction and communication styles
Relational satisfaction is closely tied to effective communication between partners. Communication involves listening actively, empathizing with each other, and responding constructively (Gottman, 1994). Open-minded individuals are likely to listen better since they value diverse perspectives and ideas without imposing their own opinions (Watson & Clark, 1984). Moreover, agreeableness has been associated with greater empathy in romantic relationships (Ackerman & Anderson, 2015), which can promote positive interactions and compromise. In contrast, conscientiousness predicts more rational problem-solving strategies and higher standards for conflict resolution quality (Baumeister et al., 2003), which may lead to increased satisfaction if managed effectively.
Personality plays an integral part in how couples resolve conflicts, communicate desires, and maintain satisfying relationships.
How do personality traits influence sexual conflict resolution, desire expression, and relational satisfaction in couples?
Personality traits play a significant role in how individuals resolve sexual conflicts with their partners, express desires, and experience satisfaction in romantic relationships. Research suggests that there are several factors related to personality types that may influence these processes, such as extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness to new experiences, and emotional stability.