Amy Muise

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - Department of Psychology

Degrees

Hons BA - 2004
University of Western Ontario
London, ON

MSc - 2007
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON

PhD - 2011
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON

Postdoctoral Fellow - 2015
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON

Biography

Why are some couples able to keep their sexual spark alive and have fulfilling romantic partnerships over time while other couples are disconnected and discontent? Dr. Muise’s research focuses on understanding how couples can maintain happier relationships and have more fulfilling sex lives over time. In her research, she applies social psychological theories of close relationships and motivation to understand when and for whom sex is associated with benefits and when it might detract from the quality of relationships. She uses dyadic and longitudinal research methods and analyses (i.e., daily experience studies, multi-level modeling) to understand how sexual processes unfold to impact relationship well-being in the context of couples’ daily lives as well as over the course of time as relationships grow and develop.

Dr. Muise is interested in understanding these processes not only when couples are doing well, but also when they are navigating relationship transitions, such as the transition to parenthood or the COVID-19 pandemic, or coping with a clinical sexual issue, such as low sexual desire.  Her interest lies in understanding the individual and relationship characteristics that help couples navigate relationship changes and challenges with greater success.

Selected Publications

Carswell, K. L*., Muise, A., Harasymchuk, C. Horne, R. M.*, Visserman, M. L.*, & Impett, E. A. (2021). Growing desire or growing apart? Consequences of personal self-expansion for romantic passion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advanced online publication.

Balzarini, R. N.*, Muise, A., Dobson, K.*, Kohut, T., Raposo, S.* & Campbell, L. (2021). The detriments of unmet sexual ideals and buffering effect of sexual communal strength. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advanced online publication.

Raposo, S.* Rosen, N. O., & Muise, A. (2020). Self-expansion is associated with greater relationship and sexual well-being for couples coping with low sexual desire.  Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37, 602–623.

Muise, A., Harasymchuk, C., Day, L. C., Bacev-Giles, C., Gere, J., & Impett, E. A. (2019). Broadening your horizons: Self-expanding activities promote desire and satisfaction in established romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116, 237-258. 

Maxwell, J., Muise, A., MacDonald, G., Day, L. C., Rosen, N. O., & Impett, E. A. (2017). How implicit theories of sexuality shape sexual and relationship well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 112, 238-279.

Muise, A., Stanton, S. C. E.*, Kim, J. J.*, & Impett, E. A. (2016). Not in the mood? Men under (not over) perceive their partner’s sexual desire in established relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 110, 725-742.

Muise, A., Schimmack, U., & Impett, E. A. (2016). Sexual frequency predicts greater well-being, but more is not always better. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 7, 295-302. 

Day, L. C., Muise, A., Joel, S. & Impett E. A. (2015). To do it or not to do it? How communally motivated people navigate sexual interdependence dilemmas. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41, 791-804.

Muise, A., & Impett, E. A. (2015). Good, giving, and game: The relationship benefits of sexual communal motivation. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6, 164-172.

Muise, A., Impett, E. A., & Desmarais, S. (2013). Getting it on vs. getting it over with: Approach-avoidance sexual motivation, desire and satisfaction in intimate bonds. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39, 1320-1332.

Muise, A., Impett, E. A., Kogan, A., & Desmarais, S. (2013). Keeping the spark alive: Being motivated to meet a partner’s sexual needs sustains sexual desire in long-term romantic relationships. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 4, 267-273.