Explication of interspousal criticality bias.
Although bias towards perceiving spousal criticism is related to dysphoria and marital discord (Smith & Peterson, 2008), the bias construct has received insufficient elaboration. We explicated the criticality bias construct by exploring its correlates and incremental validity relative to perceived criticism, marital attributions, and negative affect. 118 couples completed self-report measures and undertook a videotaped discussion task. Signal detection analyses of both spouses' and outside observers' ratings of discussions produced bias indices. Criticality bias evidenced a pattern of convergent and discriminant validity mirroring perceived criticism's (Renshaw, 2008). Bias also provided incremental validity beyond perceived criticism, marital attributions, and negative affect to the prediction of behavior. Bias may be a dysfunctional way to view marital events and a stress generation process.
Peterson
Kristina M
KM
Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. kpeters1@nd.edu
Smith
David A
DA
Windle
Chaunce R
CR
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D054541:Family Conflict; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D011594:Psychometrics; D012938:Social Perception; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D014743:Videotape Recording