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No need for pedestals: Idealization does not predict better relationships among Asians
Author(s) -
Wu Karen,
Chen Chuansheng,
Greenberger Ellen,
Wang Yunxin,
Xiu Daiming,
Liu Bin,
Chen Chunhui,
Li Jin,
Chen Wen,
Dong Qi
Publication year - 2020
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/pere.12317
Subject(s) - idealization , psychology , derogation , social psychology , quality (philosophy) , contrast (vision) , positive relationship , developmental psychology , philosophy , physics , epistemology , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , computer science
The authors tested whether partner idealization was positively associated with relationship quality among 105 intraracially dating Asian American couples (Study 1) and 98 Chinese couples (Study 2) through two methods. The commonly used residual‐based approach found, in both samples, the positive associations between idealizing a partner and relationship quality previously documented among European/European Americans. In contrast, the piece‐wise regression analysis, which distinguished between idealization and derogation, found few positive associations between idealizing a partner and relationship quality. Similarly, being the object of idealization rarely predicted greater relationship quality for either sample, even when perceived idealization was tested. Derogation, however, predicted relationship outcomes. Therefore, future studies should focus on negative behaviors or attitudes (or the lack thereof) in understanding relationship outcomes.