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Perceived superiority in close relationships: Why it exists and persists

Perceived superiority in close relationships: Why it exists and persists
Perceived superiority in close relationships: Why it exists and persists
Two studies used a thought-listing technique to examine perceived superiority, or the inclination to regard one's own relationship as better than (and not as bad as) others' relationships. Consistent with the claim that this is a motivated phenomenon, and motivated in part by strong commitment, Study 1 revealed that (a) tendencies toward perceived superiority and (b) the commitment-superiority link are both strongest given psychologically threatening instructions and weakest given accuracy instructions (control instructions are intermediate). Consistent with the claim that this phenomenon serves a functional purpose, Study 2 revealed that earlier perceived superiority predicts later relationship status (persisted vs. ended) and increases over time in dyadic adjustment. Also, commitment accounts for unique variance in perceived superiority beyond self-esteem.
0022-3514
521-545
Rusbult, C. E.
55eeed70-2593-460e-ab77-ffb49d934f7d
Van Lange, P. A. M.
90f616fe-529f-46d0-a661-3850d609c760
Wildschut, T.
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Yovetich, N. A.
bf2d9be1-4f7b-4769-8be9-7d9e0f3ca8fa
Verette, J.
a821c5cc-edbd-402a-940d-69eeddbed9d8
Rusbult, C. E.
55eeed70-2593-460e-ab77-ffb49d934f7d
Van Lange, P. A. M.
90f616fe-529f-46d0-a661-3850d609c760
Wildschut, T.
4452a61d-1649-4c4a-bb1d-154ec446ff81
Yovetich, N. A.
bf2d9be1-4f7b-4769-8be9-7d9e0f3ca8fa
Verette, J.
a821c5cc-edbd-402a-940d-69eeddbed9d8

Rusbult, C. E., Van Lange, P. A. M., Wildschut, T., Yovetich, N. A. and Verette, J. (2000) Perceived superiority in close relationships: Why it exists and persists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79 (4), 521-545.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Two studies used a thought-listing technique to examine perceived superiority, or the inclination to regard one's own relationship as better than (and not as bad as) others' relationships. Consistent with the claim that this is a motivated phenomenon, and motivated in part by strong commitment, Study 1 revealed that (a) tendencies toward perceived superiority and (b) the commitment-superiority link are both strongest given psychologically threatening instructions and weakest given accuracy instructions (control instructions are intermediate). Consistent with the claim that this phenomenon serves a functional purpose, Study 2 revealed that earlier perceived superiority predicts later relationship status (persisted vs. ended) and increases over time in dyadic adjustment. Also, commitment accounts for unique variance in perceived superiority beyond self-esteem.

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Published date: 2000

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 18625
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/18625
ISSN: 0022-3514
PURE UUID: d9164e22-200d-4fbf-bbd7-5cfac77bcd1f
ORCID for T. Wildschut: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6499-5487

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Date deposited: 30 Nov 2005
Last modified: 09 Feb 2024 02:36

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Contributors

Author: C. E. Rusbult
Author: P. A. M. Van Lange
Author: T. Wildschut ORCID iD
Author: N. A. Yovetich
Author: J. Verette

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