Publications (15)50.94 Total impact
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Article: Trust and Biased Memory of Transgressions in Romantic Relationships.
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ABSTRACT: Relative to people with low trust in their romantic partner, people with high trust tend to expect that their partner will act in accordance with their interests. Consequently, we suggest, they have the luxury of remembering the past in a way that prioritizes relationship dependence over self-protection. In particular, they tend to exhibit relationship-promoting memory biases regarding transgressions the partner had enacted in the past. In contrast, at the other end of the spectrum, people with low trust in their partner tend to be uncertain about whether their partner will act in accordance with their interests. Consequently, we suggest, they feel compelled to remember the past in a way that prioritizes self-protection over relationship dependence. In particular, they tend to exhibit self-protective memory biases regarding transgressions the partner had enacted in the past. Four longitudinal studies of participants involved in established dating relationships or fledgling romantic relationships demonstrated that the greater a person's trust in their partner, the more positively they tend to remember the number, severity, and consequentiality of their partner's past transgressions-controlling for their initial reports. Such trust-inspired memory bias was partner-specific; it was more reliably evident for recall of the partner's transgressions and forgiveness than for recall of one's own transgressions and forgiveness. Furthermore, neither trust-inspired memory bias nor its partner-specific nature was attributable to potential confounds such as relationship commitment, relationship satisfaction, self-esteem, or attachment orientations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 02/2013; · 5.08 Impact Factor -
Article: The Michelangelo Phenomenon: Partner Affirmation and Self-Movement toward One's Ideal.
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ABSTRACT: Poets speak of the transformative power of love--a theme that suffuses literature from our earliest exposure to the concept of love. Indeed, the power of love in promoting personal growth is one of the most common themes in children's stories, where we learn that love can transform beasts into princes and cindergirls into princesses. Somewhat surprisingly, this theme has been less frequently addressed in the scientific literature regarding close relationships. Our work regarding the Michelangelo phenomenon seeks to address this deficiency by examining the manner in which close partners "sculpt" one another, thereby moving each person closer to--versus further away from--his or her ideal self (Drigotas, Rusbult, Wieselquist, & Whitton, 1999; Rusbult, Kumashiro, Stocker, & Wolf, 2005). We begin this chapter with a review of the three theoretical traditions that form the basis for our work. Then we describe the Michelangelo phenomenon and its consequences, introducing the concepts of partner affirmation and movement toward the ideal self, and reviewing the subsequent benefits of these processes to personal well-being and couple well-being. After summarizing empirical findings in support of key model predictions, we explain how this phenomenon differs from other self-relevant processes, such as partner verification and self-expansion. Finally, we discuss specific self processes, partner processes, and relationship processes that are relevant to understanding the Michelangelo phenomenon. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)10/2012; -
Article: Maintaining close relationships: gratitude as a motivator and a detector of maintenance behavior.
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ABSTRACT: This research examined the dual function of gratitude for relationship maintenance in close relationships. In a longitudinal study among married couples, the authors tested the dyadic effects of gratitude over three time points for approximately 4 years following marriage. They found that feelings of gratitude toward a partner stem from the partner's relationship maintenance behaviors, partly because such behaviors create the perception of responsiveness to one's needs. In turn, gratitude motivates partners to engage in relationship maintenance. Hence, the present model emphasizes that gratitude between close partners (a) originates from partners' relationship maintenance behaviors and the perception of a partner's responsiveness and (b) promotes a partner's reciprocal maintenance behaviors. Thus, the authors' findings add credence to their model, in that gratitude contributes to a reciprocal process of relationship maintenance, whereby each partner's maintenance behaviors, perceptions of responsiveness, and feelings of gratitude feed back on and influence the other's behaviors, perceptions, and feelings.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 06/2011; 37(10):1362-75. · 2.22 Impact Factor -
Article: The metamorphosis of Narcissus: communal activation promotes relationship commitment among narcissists.
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ABSTRACT: Three studies tested the hypotheses that the activation of communal mental representations promotes relationship commitment (communal activation hypothesis) and that this effect is stronger among narcissists than among nonnarcissists (Communal Activation x Narcissism hypothesis). Across experimental, longitudinal, and interaction-based research methods, and in participant samples ranging from college students to married couples, results supported the communal activation hypothesis in two of three studies and the Communal Activation x Narcissism hypothesis in all three studies. Moreover, a meta-analytic summary of the results across the three studies revealed that the association of communal activation with commitment was significant overall and that it was stronger among narcissists than among nonnarcissists. Narcissists tended to be less committed than nonnarcissists at low levels of communal activation, but this effect diminished and sometimes even reversed at high levels. This work is the first to identify a mechanism by which narcissists can become more committed relationship partners.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 08/2009; 35(10):1271-84. · 2.22 Impact Factor -
Article: "The part of me that you bring out": ideal similarity and the Michelangelo phenomenon.
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ABSTRACT: This work examines the Michelangelo phenomenon, an interpersonal model of the means by which people move closer to (vs. further from) their ideal selves. The authors propose that partner similarity--similarity to the ideal self, in particular--plays an important role in this process. Across 4 studies employing diverse designs and measurement techniques, they observed consistent evidence that when partners possess key elements of one another's ideal selves, each person affirms the other by eliciting important aspects of the other's ideals, each person moves closer to his or her ideal self, and couple well-being is enhanced. Partner similarity to the actual self also accounts for unique variance in key elements of this model. The associations of ideal similarity and actual similarity with couple well-being are fully attributable to the Michelangelo process, to partner affirmation and target movement toward the ideal self. The authors also performed auxiliary analyses to rule out several alternative interpretations of these findings.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 02/2009; 96(1):61-82. · 5.08 Impact Factor -
Article: Why We Need Interdependence Theory
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ABSTRACT: The exceptional sociability of human life colors nearly every phenomenon in the social and behavioral sciences. However, most psychological theories continue to adopt a within-person perspective, analyzing human behavior by reference to individual-level biological processes, personal dispositions, or cognitive experiences. Interdependence theory is an important antidote to this actor-focused bias. Interdependence theory identifies the most important characteristics of interpersonal situations via a comprehensive analysis of situation structure and describes the implications of structure for understanding intrapersonal and interpersonal processes. Situation structure matters because it is the interpersonal reality within which motives are activated, toward which cognition is oriented and around which interaction unfolds. This paper describes key principles of interdependence structure and processes, and illustrates the utility of an interdependence theoretic analysis via a review of four phenomena – regulatory fit, persistence in the face of dissatisfaction, tit-for-tat versus generosity, and the origins and consequences of trust.Social and Personality Psychology Compass 09/2008; 2(5):2049 - 2070. -
Article: Navigating personal and relational concerns: the quest for equilibrium.
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ABSTRACT: The authors' personal-relational equilibrium model suggests that people come to seek equilibrium in their dedication to personal and relational concerns in that these 2 important needs cannot always be gratified simultaneously. The authors proposed that the experience of personal-relational disequilibrium motivates attempts to restore equilibrium and that achieving equilibrium promotes life satisfaction. Four studies revealed good support for the model. In Study 1, a manipulation of anticipated future disequilibrium (vs. equilibrium) as a result of overdedication to either the personal or relational domain caused reduced motivation to address concerns in that domain and increased motivation toward the complementary domain. In Study 2, narratives describing disequilibrium experiences (vs. equilibrium experiences) exhibited increased motivation to restore equilibrium and reduced life satisfaction. In Study 3, diary reports of everyday disequilibrium were associated with increased same-day motivation to restore equilibrium, reduced same-day life satisfaction, and increased next-day dedication of effort to the complementary domain. In Study 4, experiences of disequilibrium predicted reduced well-being 6 months later. Collectively, these findings extend knowledge of how people regulate themselves toward equilibrium in pursuing 2 fundamental human concerns.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 08/2008; 95(1):94-110. · 5.08 Impact Factor -
Article: Executive self, self-esteem, and negative affectivity: relations at the phenotypic and genotypic level.
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ABSTRACT: Complementary approaches examined the relations among executive self, self-esteem, and negative affectivity. A cross-sectional (N = 4,242) and a longitudinal (N = 158) study established that self-esteem mediated the relation between executive self and negative affectivity. A 3rd study (N = 878 twin pairs) replicated this pattern and examined genetic and environmental influences underlying all 3 phenotypes. Covariation among the 3 phenotypes reflected largely common genetic influences, although unique genetic effects explained variability in both executive self and negative affectivity. Executive self was influenced by shared environmental influences unique from those affecting self-esteem and negative affectivity. Non-shared environmental influences accounted for the majority of variance in each construct and were primarily unique to each. The unique genetic and non-shared environmental influences support the proposition that the executive self, self-esteem, and negative affectivity capture distinct and important differences between people.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 11/2005; 89(4):593-606. · 5.08 Impact Factor -
Article: Self processes in interdependent relationships: Partner affirmation and the Michelangelo phenomenon
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ABSTRACT: This essay reviews theory and research regarding the “Michelangelo phenomenon, which describes the manner in which close partners shape one another's dispositions, values, and behavioral tendencies. Individuals are more likely to exhibit movement toward their ideal selves to the degree that their partners exhibit affirming perception and behavior; exhibiting confidence in the self's capacity and enacting behaviors that elicit key features of the self's ideal. In turn, movement towards the ideal self yields enhanced personal well-being and couple well-being. We review empirical evidence regarding this phenomenon and discuss self and partner variables that contribute to the process.Interaction Studies 12/2004; 6(3):375-391. · 1.11 Impact Factor -
Article: Interdependence, interaction, and relationships.
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ABSTRACT: Interdependence theory presents a logical analysis of the structure of interpersonal situations, offering a conceptual framework in which interdependence situations can be analyzed in terms of six dimensions. Specific situations present specific problems and opportunities, logically implying the relevance of specific motives and permitting their expression. Via the concept of transformation, the theory explains how interaction is shaped by broader considerations such as long-term goals and concern for a partner's welfare. The theory illuminates our understanding of social-cognitive processes that are of longstanding interest to psychologists such as cognition and affect, attribution, and self-presentation. The theory also explains adaptation to repeatedly encountered interdependence patterns, as well as the embodiment of such adaptations in interpersonal dispositions, relationship-specific motives, and social norms.Annual Review of Psychology 02/2003; 54:351-75. · 16.83 Impact Factor -
Article: Self-respect and pro-relationship behavior in marital relationships.
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ABSTRACT: This work advances an interdependence theoretic analysis of the role of self-respect in ongoing close relationships. Self-respect is defined as the tendency to perceive the self as a principled person who is worthy of honor and high regard and is argued to rest on moral integrity. Consistent with predictions, results from a study of marital relationships revealed that individual self-respect is positively associated with both the individual's and the partner's pro-relationship behavior (accommodation, forgiveness, conciliation). Mediation analyses revealed that self-respect not only exhibits direct associations with each person's behavior, but also exhibits indirect associations with each person's behavior, via the impact of each person's actions on reciprocal pro-relationship behavior from the partner. Mediation was more reliably observed for the association of self-respect with partner behavior than for the association with individual behavior. Both individual pro-relationship behavior and partner pro-relationship behavior are positively associated with couple well-being, which in turn is positively associated with personal well-being (life satisfaction, physical health, psychological adjustment). These associations were evident in both within-participant and across-partner analyses and for both self-report and interaction-based measures of behavior. Self-respect reliably accounts for unique variance beyond variance attributable to self-esteem.Journal of Personality 01/2003; 70(6):1009-49. · 2.44 Impact Factor -
Article: Dealing with betrayal in close relationships: does commitment promote forgiveness?
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ABSTRACT: This work complements existing research regarding the forgiveness process by highlighting the role of commitment in motivating forgiveness. On the basis of an interdependence-theoretic analysis, the authors suggest that (a) victims' self-oriented reactions to betrayal are antithetical to forgiveness, favoring impulses such as grudge and vengeance, and (b) forgiveness rests on prorelationship motivation, one cause of which is strong commitment. A priming experiment, a cross-sectional survey study, and an interaction record study revealed evidence of associations (or causal effects) of commitment with forgiveness. The commitment-forgiveness association appeared to rest on intent to persist rather than long-term orientation or psychological attachment. In addition, the commitment-forgiveness association was mediated by cognitive interpretations of betrayal incidents; evidence for mediation by emotional reactions was inconsistent.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 07/2002; 82(6):956-74. · 5.08 Impact Factor -
Article: The Investment Model Scale: Measuring commitment level, satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size
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ABSTRACT: Three studies evaluated the reliability and validity of the Investment Model Scale, an instrument designed to measure four constructs, including commitment level and three bases of dependence–satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size. In all three studies, reliability analyses revealed good internal consistency among items designed to measure each construct. Also, principal components analyses performed on scale items revealed evidence of four factors, with items designed to measure each construct loading on independent factors. Studies 2 and 3 examined associations of model variables with instruments measuring diverse qualities of relationships and assorted personal dispositions. As anticipated, Investment Model variables were moderately associated with other measures reflecting superior couple functioning (e.g., dyadic adjustment, trust level, inclusion of other in the self), and were essentially unrelated to measures assessing personal dispositions (e.g., need for cognition, self-esteem). In addition, Study 3 demonstrated that earlier measures of Investment Model variables predicted later levels of dyadic adjustment and later relationship status (persisted vs. ended). It is hoped that the existence of a reliable and valid Investment Model Scale will promote further research regarding commitment and interdependence in ongoing close relationships.Personal Relationships 11/1998; 5(4):357 - 387. · 0.74 Impact Factor -
Article: Cognitive interdependence: Commitment and the mental representation of close relationships.
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ABSTRACT: On the basis of an interdependence analysis, it is proposed that commitment to a close relationship is associated with cognitive interdependence—a mental state characterized by a pluralistic, collective representation of the self-in-relationship. A cross-sectional survey study and a 2-wave longitudinal study revealed that strong commitment to a romantic relationship is associated with greater spontaneous plural pronoun usage, greater perceived unity of self and partner, and greater reported relationship centrality. Commitment and cognitive interdependence operate in a cycle of mutual influence, such that earlier commitment predicts change over time in cognitive interdependence, and earlier cognitive interdependence predicts change over time in commitment. Links between commitment and cognitive interdependence were weak or nonsignificant for relationships among best friends, suggesting that this phenomenon may be unique to romantic relationships. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved). (from the journal abstract)Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 04/1998; 74(4):939-954. -
Article: Interdependence processes.
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ABSTRACT: [presents] a theory of social psychological processes that deals not only with the individual social agent, but also with the fabric of the social milieu in which the individual is enmeshed begins with a discussion of basic concepts, reviewing key properties of interaction, the nature of self-interest, and standards for evaluating interactions and relationships / address the structure of outcome interdependence, describing the properties that define all possible patterns of interdependence—degree of dependence, mutuality of dependence, correspondence of outcomes, and basis for dependence / introduce the concept of transformation of motivation, describing this process, the primary types of transformational activity, and the main embodiments of transformational tendencies—dispositions, relationship-specific motives, and social norms consider the role of internal events in summarizing and directing interdependent behavior, including cognitive interpretations and emotional reactions / self-presentation processes are also relevant to understanding how internal events shape interdependent experiences / discuss interdependence processes in larger groups (e.g., social dilemmas, intergroup relations, stereotype maintenance) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)10/1996;
Top co-authors
Top Journals
Institutions
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2009
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Northwestern University
Evanston, IL, USA
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2008–2009
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VU University Amsterdam
- Department of Social and Organisational Psychology
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands -
University of London
London, ENG, United Kingdom
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2005
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University of Southampton
- Department of Psychology
Southampton, ENG, United Kingdom
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2004
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Universiteit van Amsterdam
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
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1998–2003
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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