How a person handles conflict in a romantic relationship is closely linked with his or her relationship satisfaction. Seeking positive outcomes is correlated with greater satisfaction, while avoiding negative outcomes is correlated with lesser satisfaction. Whether a person tends to seek positives vs. avoid negatives is related to personality, but this study tested whether it also might be affected by aspects of the relationship itself. 114 undergraduates indicated how they were likely to respond in three romantic relationship conflict scenarios that varied the level of a person’s relationship investment, their level of relationship alternatives, and perceived relationship repair/dissolution. I also measured participants’ personalities, goals, and relationship experience. I will assess to what extent tendencies to avoid negative outcomes (e.g., conflict) vs. seek positive outcomes (e.g., intimacy) are affected by aspects of the situation and to what extent they are affected by personality
