fatuous love:High in passion and commitment, but low in intimacy.
fault divorce:One spouse must be at fault for the marriage’s failure. These faults are called
“grounds”for divorce.
fertility window:The 100-120 hours per month in which a female can conceive.
fictive kin:Intentional family-like relationship between friends; non-blood relatives served as
family for the children of slaves separated from their parents.
gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT): A medical procedure that involves transferring both
eggs and sperm into the fallopian tube so fertilization takes place in the woman’s body.
generation gap:Marked philosophical and cultural differences between societal generations.
This term came into use in the 1960s, as the youth culture developed its own styles of
dress, slang expressions, and music preferences.
generativity:Concern for establishing and guiding the next generation; The ability to
contribute to future generations, ensuring the continuation of society.
glass ceiling:Organizational, attitudinal, and societal barriers keeping women from
advancing up the career ladder.
harmonious marriage:High relationship quality in marriage.
hedonism:The belief pleasure and happiness are the primary goals of life.
hedonistic:Believing sex is just for pleasure and recreation.
Homestead Act:Provided land for people willing to move to the Midwest and Plains states,
allowing them to become landowners.
homogamy:Choosing a mate who is similar to oneself.
hooking up: Getting together for casual sexual interaction with no expectation of
relationship.
hypotheses:Assumptions that scientists test and from which they draw conclusions.
Scientists formulate predictions about the relationship between two or more variables in a
hypothesis.
ideal mate theory of mate selection:Suggests people form a fantasy image of their ideal mate
and then search for someone who comes close to filling the image.
immediate gratification:Satisfying an impulse to attain something now, whether it is
financially feasible or not.
in vitro fertilization:A medical procedure in which a woman’s egg is removed, fertilized by
sperm (from her husband or a donor), and then implanted in her (or a surrogate’s) uterus.
independent variable:Part of a hypothesis which specifies thecause.
Glossary