When “negative” behaviors are positive
A contextual analysis of the long-term effects of problem-solving behaviors on changes in relationship satisfaction
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6206923 |
|---|---|
| Authors | James K Mcnulty (0000-0002-5476-7472, University of Tennessee at Knoxville), Michelle Russell, V Michelle Russell (0009-0002-4769-8795, University of Tennessee at Knoxville) |
| Year | 2010 |
| Volume | 98 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 587-604 |
| Publication date | 2010-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315 |
| Publisher | American Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1037/a0017479 |
| PMID | 20307131 |
| PMCID | PMC2845983 |
| OpenAlex | W2089049578 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 71 |
| References cited | 32 |
How should partners discuss the problems that arise over the course of their intimate relationships? Prior studies have provided inconsistent answers to this question, with some suggesting that partners benefit by avoiding negative behaviors and others suggesting that partners benefit by engaging in negative behaviors. The 2 longitudinal studies of newlyweds described here reconcile these inconsistent findings by revealing that direct negative problem-solving behaviors interact with the severity of the problems couples face in their relationships to account for changes in relationship satisfaction. Whereas spouses' tendencies to blame, command, and reject their partners predicted steeper declines in their own marital satisfaction when exhibited in the context of relationships facing only minor problems, those same behaviors predicted more stable satisfaction in relationships facing more severe problems. Subsequent analyses revealed that changes in the severity of the problems themselves mediated these effects. By contrast, indirect negative communications were associated with stably lower levels of satisfaction regardless of problem severity. The current findings join others in highlighting the theoretical importance of accounting for the relational context when examining the implications of various interpersonal processes
Blame · Context (archaeology) · Developmental psychology · Interpersonal communication · Interpersonal relationship · Partner effects · Term (time) · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Psychology · Social Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 71 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 4,73 |
| Citation span | 2011 - 2026 (16) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 65 |