week 11 Flashcards
What are relationship maintenance mechanisms?
the strategic
actions people take to sustain
their partnerships.
Cognitive maintenance mechanism: Cognitive interdependence
Couples think of themselves as a unit.
Use pronouns such as we, us, and ours
What is positive illusions?
Partners idealize one another.
Perceived superiority is what
People consider their relationships to be better than most
Maintaining and enhancing relationships: Inattention to alternatives
Committed partners pay less attention to the other
potential partners that are available to them.
What is derogation of tempting alternatives
Judging attractive rivals as less desirable than others think them to be
Behavioural maintenance mechanism: Willingness to sacrifice
Committed people often make various personal sacrifices,
doing things they would prefer not to do, or not doing
things that they would like to do
Michelangelo phenomenon?
Committed lovers also promote their partners’ growth by
supporting their development of desired new skills and
endorsing their acceptance of promising new roles and
responsibilities.
Accommodation:
Committed partners also tend to swallow minor mistreatment
from their partners without fighting back.
Maintaining relationships: Self-control
§ The ability to withstand temptation,
manage impulses, and do the right
thing are also important.
maintenance of relationship: Play
Committed partners find ways to
engage in novel, challenging, exciting,
and pleasant activities together.
Enhancing relationships: Savouring
§ Couples are more satisfied when
they pay attention to and enjoy
shared pleasures.
Enhancing relationships: Rituals
§ Committed partners develop
familiar routines that become
traditions and symbolize and
reinforce the partners’ identity as
a couple.
Staying content: 4 things
Positivity, assurances, sharing tasks, openness
Staying content: positivity
Contented partners strive to be polite and cheerful to one
another.