Personal Relationships

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01331.xpmid: N/A

WEIGEL, DANIEL J.

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01303.xpmid: N/A

On the basis of the interdependence and interpersonal perception literatures, this article advanced and tested a dyadic model of mutuality of commitment. It is argued that mutuality of commitment is composed of 4 perceptions (i.e., A's self and other perceptions, and B's self and other perceptions) and 4 types of interconnections among the perceptions (i.e., actual, assumed, empathic, and reciprocal mutuality). Evidence for the presence of the 4 types of mutuality of commitment was found in a sample of 121 romantically involved couples. Furthermore, in several situations the perceptions and types of mutuality had significant associations with people's perceptions of relationship quality. Each of these results is discussed, as well as the utility of the new conceptualization of mutuality of commitment.

WICKRAMA, K. A. S.; BRYANT, CHALANDRA M.; WICKRAMA, THULITHA K. A.

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01299.xpmid: N/A

Using a sample of African American husbands and wives, this study investigates whether marital interactions and health are linked to their perceived community disorder. Findings suggest that only husbands' perceived community disorder is associated with their hostile behaviors toward their wives. Although wives' perceived disorder is strongly associated with husbands' perceived disorder, wives' perceptions are not directly associated with their hostile behaviors toward their husbands. Findings also suggest that husbands' and wives' hostile behaviors are strongly associated with each other. In general, spouses' hostile behaviors toward their partners are associated with their own as well as their partners' physical and mental health. Furthermore, husbands' perceived community disorder is directly associated with their own physical and mental health.

SCHWARZ, SASCHA; HASSEBRAUCK, MANFRED; DÖRFLER, REBECCA

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01289.xpmid: N/A

Among laypersons and even among scientists, little agreement exists about the definition of sex. Using the prototype approach, the current research explored the prototypical structure of sex. Further, it examined important intersexual and intrasexual personal templates. In Study 1, 122 participants produced a list of 80 features for the concept sex, which were rated for typicality by 251 participants in Study 2. Important sex differences with respect to the prototype of sex and correlations with sociosexual orientation were also revealed in Study 2. Study 3 (n = 98) extended these findings by showing that response latencies differ for central versus peripheral features, women versus men, and depend on the sociosexual orientation of the participants.

WILLER, ERIN K.; SOLIZ, JORDAN

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01297.xpmid: N/A

Socially aggressive face threats (SAFTs) are messages that threaten one's identity or positive face. Given the potential negative consequences of being a recipient of such behavior, the role of positive face needs, intragroup status, and the face‐threatening nature of social aggression in predicting correlates of negative affect experienced as a result of being a target of SAFTs, including the face threat of the response, forgiveness, and well‐being was investigated. On the basis of the survey responses from 199 college‐aged women, findings indicated that targets' positive face needs and intragroup status are directly and indirectly associated with forgiveness and overall well‐being. Implications for these findings in relation to theorizing about face and intragroup identity, as well as limitations and suggestions for future research were provided.

IMPETT, EMILY A.; BREINES, JULIANA G.; STRACHMAN, AMY

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01290.xpmid: N/A

The role of relationship authenticity in shaping women's daily condom use was investigated. Forty‐seven sexually active women in dating relationships completed a measure of relationship authenticity and then reported on their daily condom use and relationship events for 14 consecutive days. Inauthentic women were less likely than more authentic women to use condoms, particularly on days with frequent negative events such as major disagreements with a romantic partner. These critical Person × Situation interactions remained significant after controlling for the use of another form of birth control, sexual frequency, knowledge of a partner's sexual history, and relationship satisfaction. Implications for sexual risk‐taking behaviors and future research using daily experience methods to study sexuality in dating relationships are discussed.

REIZER, ABIRA; POSSICK, CHAYA; EIN‐DOR, TSACHI

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01301.xpmid: N/A

This research examined the impact of stressful environments on marital relationships. In all, 133 Israeli couples exposed to different levels of terror threat and political uncertainty completed measures of attachment orientation, psychological distress, and marital satisfaction. Results indicated that in low‐threat areas, spouses high on attachment avoidance did not express distress despite their marital dissatisfaction. In contrast, in high‐threat areas, spouses high on attachment avoidance exhibited greater psychological distress, and psychological distress mediated the relation between attachment avoidance and marital dissatisfaction. Psychological distress only partially mediated the relation between attachment anxiety and marital dissatisfaction in the entire sample. The discussion stresses the importance of considering attachment dimensions when studying the effects of external stressors on marital relations.

BRUMBAUGH, CLAUDIA CHLOE; FRALEY, R. CHRIS

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01304.xpmid: N/A

When asked to choose among secure or insecurely attached partner prototypes, research shows that people tend to select secure individuals as their first choice. Despite this pattern, not everyone chooses secure partners in reality. The goal of this study was to examine the ways in which insecure individuals present themselves that might make them attractive to others. To achieve this goal, participants were led to believe that they were interacting with a possible date. That insecure individuals presented themselves as warm, engaging, and humorous people when communicating with potential mates were found. These findings suggest that insecure people have numerous dating tactics and positive qualities that they display to win over romantic partners.

FINKENAUER, CATRIN; WIJNGAARDS‐DE MEIJ, LEONIEK; REIS, HARRY T.; RUSBULT, CARYL E.

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01300.xpmid: N/A

Partners scrutinize each other's behaviors to identify the quality of their relationship. Because people's perception of their partners' behavior is imperfect, they face a signal detection problem for which there are 4 outcomes: hits, misses, false alarms, and correct rejections. Research confirms the importance of hits, misses, and false alarms for relationship quality, but nothing is known about correct rejections. In a prospective study among newlywed couples, it was predicted and found that people are good at detecting the absence of partner behavior, especially negative partner behavior, and that these correct rejections are important for relationship quality above and beyond hits. Happy partners see reality in a way that maintains their happiness, which includes seeing what is not there.

GONZAGA, GIAN C.; CARTER, STEVE; GALEN BUCKWALTER, J.

doi: 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2010.01309.xpmid: N/A

This work investigates assortative mating and convergence in personality and their effect on marital satisfaction. Measures of personality were collected from a sample of married couples before they met and twice after they were married. Results showed evidence for assortative mating but not for convergence in an average couple. Similarity and convergence in personality predicted later marital satisfaction. These results indicate that similarity and convergence in psychological characteristics may benefit relationships and that while spouses may choose partners with similar personalities they do not become more like their partners in the early part of their marriage.