A Lay Theory of Relational Satisfaction with Best Friends

Bibliographic Data

ID2927917
AuthorsTim Cole (0000-0002-2957-6527, DePaul University), James J Bradac (University of California, Santa Barbara)
Year1996
Volume13
Issue1
Pages57-83
Publication date1996-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407596131004
OpenAlexW2109259876
LanguageEN
Citations received17
References cited40

Three research questions were addressed to examine people's lay beliefs regarding the causes of relational satisfaction among best friends. The first question dealt with the specific beliefs that people hold about satisfaction with a best friend. Forty-three sources of relational satisfaction were identified. The second question focused on the dimensions underlying people's beliefs about satisfaction. Multidimensional scaling suggested that three general dimensions underlie people's beliefs about satisfaction with a best friend. The third question examined the perceived causal structure underlying people's beliefs about relational satisfaction. A network analysis revealed that people have a detailed and elaborate set of assumptions regarding the causal relations between the sources of satisfaction. Taken together, our results suggest that people have many, well-integrated beliefs about satisfaction in best friendships. Specifically, these beliefs are organized dimensionally and they are causally intertwined, constituting evidence for the existence of a lay theory of this relational outcome

Set (abstract data type · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Computer Science · Cultural Differences and Values · Psychology · Social Psychology

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