ICPR Abstracts: Session 20

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Session 20: Papers

Perceptions, Heuristics, and Distortions

20.1
I Said What?: Investigating the Association Between
Premarital Relationship Outcome and 
Memories of Commitment

Timothy J. Loving, Purdue University
Catherine A. Surra, University of Texas at Austin

The possible role of relationship outcome on memories of 
relationship commitment was investigated.  A measure of 
percent chance of marriage (collected concurrently and 
retrospectively) was used to estimate commitment levels.  
Respondents were categorized into three groups:  breakup 
(individuals ending their dating relationship; n23), 
maintenance (individuals with no difference in 
commitment level from the beginning to the end of the 
study; n15), or advanced (individuals with a minimum 
20% increase in commitment level; n15).  Results 
indicated the advanced group altered memories in a more 
positive fashion.  However, the breakup group's memories 
showed no changes.  Explanations for these results are 
offered. 

20.2
Content and Heuristic Effects of Relationship 
Memories on Ratings of Relationship Satisfaction

Michael J.L. Sullivan and Michael Stevens
Dalhousie University


When individuals recall positive relationship memories, 
they may be expected to rate their relationship as more 
satisfying than individuals who recall negative relationship 
memories.  However, when individuals experience 
difficulty retrieving positive or negative relationship 
memories, they may consider these to be less diagnostic of 
their level of satisfaction.  Two studies examined the 
effects of content valence and ease of retrieval of 
relationship memories on ratings of relationship 
satisfaction.  The pattern of findings suggested that 
individuals use different strategies to process positive and 
negative relationship information; relying on heuristics in 
the processing positive relationship information, and 
relying on content in the processing of negative 
relationship information.

20.3
The Self-Fulfilling Effects of Idealization
 in Romantic Relationships

Sandra Murray, University of Michigan
John G. Holmes, University of Waterloo
Dale Griffin, University of Sussex

It is proposed that satisfying, stable relationships reflect 
intimates' ability to see imperfect partners in idealized 
ways.  A longitudinal study of dating relationships 
revealed that idealization had a variety of self-fulfilling 
effects, rather than leaving intimates vulnerable to 
disappointment.  Relationships were more likely to persist 
-- even in the face of conflicts and doubts -- when 
intimates idealized one another the most.  Intimates who 
idealized one another more initially reported greater 
increases in satisfaction and decreases in conflicts and 
doubts over the year. Individuals even came to share their 
partners' idealized images of them as time passed.  
Intimates who idealized one another appeared more 
prescient than blind, actually creating the relationships 
they wished for as romances progressed. 

20.4
Premarital Partners Understandings of
and Explanations for Negative Events in Courtship

Karin M. Samii and Catherine Surra
University of Texas at Austin

This investigation used premarital partners' accounts of 
changes in commitment to marriage to examine 
explanations of negative events in close relationships.  
Three models were proposed to account for how partners 
would explain negative events: illusionment, 
misinterpretation, and lay scientist.  Negative events were 
coded in the transcripts of 80 persons who were involved 
in a dating relationship.  From the attributions and 
explanations surrounding these negative events, themes 
were defined and then applied to all accounts until the 
qualitative data were all accounted for. Evidence of the 
three models was discovered as well as evidence for a 
fourth model, event-chaining.  The way in which partners 
process negative events as it relates to the models was 
discussed, as well as plans for further analyses.

20.5
Newlyweds' Perceptions of Self and Spouse Behavior

Susan Miller Campbell and Dara Sorkin
Middlebury College

Studies have suggested that relationship partners are often 
self- serving in their interpretations of each others' 
behavior.  The present study explored newlyweds' 
perceptions of self and partner behavior immediately 
following two brief discussions, and again three months 
later.  Contrary to the egocentric bias prediction, 
newlyweds displayed an initial positivity in perceptions of 
spouses' behavior.  Immediately following the discussions, 
spouses rated their partners' behavior as more positive and 
less negative than their own.  Perceptions shifted over 
time, however; there was no difference between self and 
partner ratings at the second measurement.  Consequences 
for changes in marital satisfaction over time are 
considered.