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The Michelangelo Phenomenon and Personal Well‐Being
Author(s) -
Drigotas Stephen M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/1467-6494.00178
Subject(s) - phenomenon , psychology , social psychology , romance , ideal (ethics) , well being , developmental psychology , psychoanalysis , epistemology , psychotherapist , philosophy
Previousresearch has demonstrated that when a close romantic partner views you and behaves toward youin a manner that is congruent with your ideal self, you experience movement toward your idealself (termed the “Michelangelo phenomenon”; Drigotas, Rusbult, Wieselquist,& Whitton, 1999). The present research represents an attempt demonstrate thephenomenon's link to personal well‐being. Results of a cross‐sectional study of individualsin dating relationships, with a 2‐month follow‐up assessing breakup, replicated previous findingsregarding relationship well‐being and revealed strong links between the model and personalwell‐being, even when accounting for level of relationship satisfaction. Such results providefurther evidence for the social construction of the self and personal well‐being.