Meta-accuracy about potential relationship partners' models of others

Carnelley, Katherine B., Ruscher, Janet B. and Shaw, Samantha K. (1999) Meta-accuracy about potential relationship partners' models of others. Personal Relationships, 6 (1), 95-109. (doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.1999.tb00213.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We investigated whether people can determine which partners are best able to confirm their self-views. Results suggest that people are able to determine the valence of a potential romantic partner's model of other (i.e., they are meta-accurate). Previous research indicates that people expect to have their specific negative and positive self-views confirmed by partners whose model of other matches the valence of their self-view. In the present study, participants generally sought feedback that was congruent with a partner's model of other. However, men who held positive self-views were not meta-accurate; rather, they sought positive or negative feedback from partners regardless of the valence of the partner's model of other. These gender differences are discussed in terms of differential socialization patterns. Results suggest that people may choose relationship partners who are able to confirm their self-views.

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