Exploring Mate Value across Two Studies: From Perceptions to Enhancement (original) (raw)
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Romantic relationships are a prevalent component of human experience. There have been many theories formulated concerning the distinct qualities that lead to satisfaction in relationship satisfaction (commitment, the ability to resolve conflict, etc.). However, it may be that satisfaction is determined not just by the absolute levels of these qualities, but also by the degree to which partners expectations for relationship are met by their actual experiences-relationships will be satisfying for those individuals whose expectations are met, while in contrast, people whose relationships are incongruent with their expectations are going to feel dissatisfied. The present study examines the discrepancy between expectations of a romantic relationship and the reality experienced by participants in their current relationship. Participants will complete three questionnaires; one to measure actual experiences in relationships, one to measure expectations of relationships, and one to measure overall relationship satisfaction. To measure actual experiences, participants will be asked to rate their satisfaction with eight factors previously found to be integral to romantic relationships: maintenance behaviors, commitment, quality of communication, conflict resolution, emotional self-disclosure, affection, relational certainty/security, role within the relationship, and equity. Participants will also complete a similar questionnaire that will assess their expectations on each of the above factors. To measure overall relationship satisfaction, the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS) will be employed. We predict that analyses will reveal that the larger the discrepancy between expectations and reality,
The function of mate retention strategies is to preserve the bond between romantic partners and to prevent desertion, which is also why such behaviours are often elicited by the presence of a potential rival. Most existing studies on mate retention are based on self-reports, which are prone to various biases. In this study, we observed non-verbal behaviour of 47 long-term romantic heterosexual couples during their interview with a female experimenter, whom the women in the couples may have perceived as a potential rival. We measured non-verbal displays of mate retention tactics (direct guarding, intimacy inducement, appearance enhancement, and love and care display), as well as relationship maintenance strategies of openness and positivity. We expected that relationship quality as reported by both partners in the couple would be positively associated with 'benefit-provisioning' mate retention behaviours and negatively associated with a 'cost-inflicting' mate retention tactic (direct guarding). Relationship quality was assessed by Spanier's Dyadic Adjustment Scale using both the total score of dyadic adjustment and a Dyadic Satisfaction subscale. We found a significant association between both partners' dyadic adjustment and satisfaction and woman's appearance enhancement behaviours (such as self-touch, hair flip and primp) in the presence of her partner and a potential rival. We also found a negative association between partner's dyadic adjustment and woman's direct guarding of partner using short looks, and a positive association between woman's intimacy-inducing behaviour using long gaze and her own dyadic satisfaction and her partner's dyadic adjustment. Our results highlight the specific role of female attractiveness in later stages of romantic relationships within the context of mate retention and draw attention to the significance of the use of observational techniques in addition to self-reports. K E Y W O R D S appearance enhancement, dyadic satisfaction, glance, non-verbal behaviour, relationship maintenance, self-touch
We test a novel evolutionary hypothesis predicting that mate value discrepancies, but not mate preference fulfillment , will regulate relationship satisfaction. Across Study 1 (n = 259) and Study 2 (n = 300), we employed new Euclidean measures able to capture preference fulfillment and compute estimates of mate value discrepancies. Relationship satisfaction was not related to how well mates fulfilled their partner's preferences. Mate value discrepancies, in contrast, interacted to predict relationship satisfaction: relationship satisfaction declined for participants whose mates were less desirable than their alternatives, but only for participants who were higher in mate value than their mates. Additionally, these satisfaction differences mediated a relationship between mate value discrepancies and mate retention behavior. This mediation pathway is unique to satisfaction; the same pathway was not observed through trust, a functionally distinct relationship affective state. Study 3 (n = 301) addressed a methodological limitation of Studies 1 and 2. We replicated the mate value discrepancy interaction to predict relationship satisfaction, but found an effect of ideal preference fulfillment on relationship satisfaction. These results provide evidence that mate preferences have important, functionally specific effects on within-relationship processes through contributing to two independent discrepancy variables: partner–self and partner-potential mate value discrepancies. They also largely contravene the hypothesis that mate preference fulfillment is the key to relationship satisfaction.
Human Communication Research, 1995
Two studies investigated patterns of nonverbal cues .-.tween intimates as predicte, y schema-based models of behavioral adaptation. In Study 1, participants engaged in a gameplaying episode. Consistent with, but extending'past research, someadaptation occurred when partners acted uninvolved, used cues signifiing low activity, and showed positive affect. Further, satisjed couples were more likely than dissatisjed dyads to reciprocate their partners' positive affect. In tk second study, couples discussed upcoming plans. Reciprocity occurred for almost all behavioral composites but did not di$wntiate satisjedfrom dissatisfied couples signijicantly. It is argued that reciprocity should be predicted in intimate relationships and that it contributes to the communication climate of the relationship. Other influences have an important, but lesser, impact.
Mate retention strategies are an important tool in keeping a partner, and their use is determined by the mate value (MV) of the partner one is trying to keep. The type of strategy used is also dependent on one’s own MV: mates of lower MV are more prone to exhibiting strategies that are cost-inflicting for their partners, whereas partner-benefiting strategies are used by mates of higher value. The type of strategies used affects relationship satisfaction (RS), and is also affected by the perceived difference in MVs. However, it is unclear how someone’s perception of their partner’s MV is related to that partner’s behavior and their own RS. To this aim, we investigated the relationship between these variables on a sample of 178 couples. Our results showed that benefit-inducing strategies were used more by—and towards—partners of higher MV, and were positively connected with RS. Cost-inflicting strategies were more used by—and towards—partners of lower MV, and were negatively connected with RS. Less MV difference was positively correlated with RS and benefiting strategies, and negatively correlated with cost-inflicting strategies. It seems that good mates use strategies that benefit their partners, which, in turn, make them more valuable and, consequently, their partner more satisfied.
Current Psychology, 2020
This study investigated whether relationship satisfaction mediates the association between own and perceived partner mate-retention strategies and commitment. One hundred and fifty individuals (Mage = 23.87, SDage = 7.28; 78.7% women) in a committed relationship participated in this study. We found an association between perceived partner mate-retention strategies and commitment and that relationship satisfaction mediated this link. Similarly, we found that relationship satisfaction also mediated the association between individuals’ own cost-inflicting strategies and commitment. Specifically, perceived partner benefit-provisioning strategies are positively associated with commitment through increased relationship satisfaction and, conversely, both perceived partner and own cost-inflicting strategies are negatively associated with commitment through decreased relationship satisfaction. Additionally, we observed that relationship satisfaction moderated the association between perceive...
Romantic Relationship and Partner Schemas: Concepts Associated with a Positive Valence
Trends in Psychology
This study identifies concepts associated with positive valence of romantic relationship and partner, in order to characterize the schemas about these two phenomena. Participants (N = 158, 134 women) were asked to write about the positive aspects of their relationship and their partner. These reports were subjected to lexical and content analysis. Nineteen categories emerged, related to the concepts that compose the relationship schema, and 21 others related to the partner. Words and categories most frequently mentioned to characterize positive aspects of the relationship were companionship and trust, and to characterize positive aspects of the partner were caring and affectionate. There was recurrence in words and categories used among participants, indicating consensus about which aspects are positive in a relationship and a romantic partner. Differences in relationship satisfaction levels between those who mentioned and those who did not mention categories created from the reports were tested. Individuals who mentioned categories as companionship, affection, respect, and dialogue showed higher levels of satisfaction than those who did not mention these categories. The results suggest that the schemes can provide indicators of satisfaction with the relationship.
The present study investigates the relationship between nonverbal encoding and decoding of positive and negative affect attributed to relational and nonrelational factors and spouses' marital adjustment. Findings indicate that accuracy in decoding of nonverbal affect was associated with the partner's, but not one's own, marital satisfaction. In regard to specific relational and nonrelational affect, results showed that accurate decoding of relational positive affect and of nonrelational negative affect was associated with the decoder's marital satisfaction, while accurate decoding of relational positive affect was associated with the partner's dissatisfaction. In regard to nonverbal communication and sex differences, we found that husbands' decoding of wives' nonrelational affect was more predictive of marital satisfaction than wives' decoding of husbands' nonrelational affect. Overall, however, we did not find many of the sex differences in nonverbal communication reported in previous studies. Implications of these findings for our current understanding of nonverbal communication in marriages are discussed.
Odd Bedfellows: Self- and Partner-Enhancement in the Communication of Commitment
Western Journal of Communication, 2019
This research examined self-and partner-enhancement biases in the everyday communication of commitment. A total of 189 romantic heterosexual couples completed a survey measuring self-and partner-reports of the communication of commitment. Women self-enhanced in their perceptions of their partner's attempts at communicating commitment, while men partner-enhanced. Further, women's self-enhancement and men's partner-enhancement resulted in their perceptions of each other's expressions of commitment being more closely aligned than self-reported expressions of commitment. Taken together, rather than being a detriment, bias in the everyday communication of commitment is an important aspect of how couples sustain commitment in their relationships.