Her research is guided by complementary questions: How does the functional significance of sex change as relationships progress from initial encounters to long-term commitments and what are the processes whereby the sexual behavioral system contributes to relationship development, maintenance, and deterioration? And whether, for whom, and how might nonsexual aspects of a relationship (e.g., attachment, perceived partner responsiveness) contribute to, or compensate for, sexual deficiencies or dissatisfaction? To address these questions, her research program adopts a person × context × time interactive framework and employs longitudinal, observational, and experimental designs.