Work

Exploring how exchange orientation affects conflict and intimacy in the daily life of romantic couples

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: We test the hypothesis that partners’ tendency to “keep score” in a relationship–as reflected in their exchange orientation–will moderate the effect of daily conflicts on their relationship evaluations. Cohabitating romantic partners (N = 82 couples) participated in a 28-day daily diary study. Partners higher in exchange orientation showed lower intimacy with their partner on days with conflict compared to days without conflict; the effect was attenuated for partners lower in exchange orientation. This result held even while adjusting for daily negative affect. We conclude that close monitoring of costs and benefits in a relationship, a characteristic of partners with high exchange orientation, may lead partners to overreact to simple daily conflicts, to the detriment of relationship evaluations.

Source: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

DOI: 10.1177/0265407519826743

Authors: Shoshana N. Jarvis, M. Joy McClure, Niall Bolger

Institutions: Adelphi University, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Attachment and Relationship Dynamics

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health

Awards: G1990817786, G2704021882