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From bad to worse: Relationship commitment and vulnerability to partner imperfections
Author(s) -
ARRIAGA XIMENA B.,
SLAUGHTERBECK ELIZABETH S.,
CAPEZZA NICOLE M.,
HMUROVIC JILLIAN L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00162.x
Subject(s) - psychology , social psychology , feeling , vulnerability (computing) , personality , association (psychology) , negative information , romance , computer security , computer science , psychoanalysis , psychotherapist
Having a satisfying romantic relationship is not always feasible, particularly as one discovers less‐than‐perfect partner characteristics. It is suggested that less committed couple members are more vulnerable to negative partner characteristics than are highly committed couple members. Forty‐one dating couples individually indicated their commitment level, were randomly assigned to receive positive‐ or negative‐false feedback about the partner’s personality, and indicated their postmanipulation satisfaction and uncertainty levels. Negative partner feedback affected the satisfaction of less committed but not highly committed individuals. Feeling uncertain about the relationship mediated less committed couple members’ increased vulnerability to negative partner information. The association between uncertainty and commitment was curvilinear and stronger under conditions of relationship threat. Self‐esteem did not predict responses to threat.