Perceiving Behaviors That Push a Partner\u27s Buttons : Biased and Accurate Trigger Knowledge, Attachment, and Relationship Dynamics

Two preregistered studies examined the interplay between directional bias and tracking accuracy in perceptions of relationship triggers, partner-enacted irksome or hurtful behaviors that elicit immediate negative emotions (e.g., clinginess). Study 1 identified 24 relationship triggers that the general public considered to be important for predicting relationship outcomes. Study 2 used recently developed statistical techniques to simultaneously test (a) whether partners were able to track the unique pattern of each other’s triggers and (b) if they overestimated or underestimated the extent to which a given behavior irked one another. Study 2 additionally explored attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance as potential moderating influences on bias and accuracy, as well as the implications of partners’ biased and accurate trigger knowledge for relationship outcomes (e.g., satisfaction, conflict management). Results revealed that partners, indeed, were able to correctly detect the pattern of each other’s triggers, though they did not demonstrate directional bias. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance moderated bias and accuracy in different ways; however, a common theme emerged such that more securely attached persons were better “trackers” and were more easily “tracked.” Finally, biased and accurate trigger perceptions predicted relationship satisfaction, negotiating strategies during conflict, and overall conflict management for the partner for whom judgments were being made. Implications of these findings for theory and relationship dynamics are discussed

Are you coming on to me? Bias and accuracy in couples' perceptions of sexual advances

How accurately do romantic partners perceive each other’s sexual advances? Two preregistered studies investigated whether perceivers over- or underestimate the specific behaviors their partner uses to indicate sexual interest (directional bias), as well as correctly detect the particular pattern of those behaviors (tracking accuracy). We also tested if biased and accurate perceptions were moderated by gender and explored how bias and accuracy predicted relational outcomes. Results revealed strong evidence for tracking accuracy in judgments of sexual advances overall, and mixed results for directional bias. Gender moderated only directional bias, such that women consistently overestimated their partner’s sexual advances, whereas men underestimated or showed no bias. Finally, biased sexual advance perceptions were associated with sexual satisfaction and love for both perceivers and partners. Implications for relationship functioning are discussed. </jats:p

Self-expansion perceptions and behaviors uniquely contribute to relationship quality over time

Self-expansion refers to the process of broadening the self via engaging in novel activities, gaining new skills and acquiring new perspectives, and is proposed to be driven in a large part by one’s close relationships. Self-expansion experiences include perceptions of potential (i.e., beliefs about how self-expanding a relationship could be in the future), perceptions of current experiences (i.e., beliefs about how self-expanding a relationship is presently), and enacted behaviors (i.e., engagement in novel, interesting activities). In two preregistered dyadic daily experience studies, we examined whether self-expansion potential is an antecedent to behavioral self-expansion and current perceptions, and how these distinct self-expansion components uniquely and synergistically predict relationship satisfaction and commitment daily and over time. Results revealed that self-expansion potential prospectively predicted both behavioral self-expansion and daily perceptions of current self-expansion. Self-expansion potential, current perceptions, and behaviors separately predicted greater relationship satisfaction and commitment daily. Self-expansion potential—but not behaviors or current perceptions—also positively predicted satisfaction and commitment two months later. Implications regarding the power of potential in relationships are discussed, including the need for future research to consider this important facet of self-expansion