How do I see you relative to myself? Relationship quality as a predictor of self- and partner-enhancement within cross-sex friendships, dating relationships, and marriages.
Individuals tend to rate themselves more positively than strangers or acquaintances--a self-enhancement effect. But such self-enhancement is potentially detrimental to one's intimate relationships. We hypothesized that higher relationship quality would predict (1) partner-enhancement (i.e., rating the partner more positively than the self) and (2) higher feelings of being understood and validated (FUV). In addition, (3) partner-enhancement would add to relationship quality's prediction of FUV. These hypotheses were tested among cross-sex friendships (N=92) and dating relationships (N=90) in University students and in a married, non-University sample (N=94). All hypotheses were supported in romantic relationships. For cross-sex friendships, regardless of relationship quality, individuals partner-enhanced on the negative traits but neither self- nor partner-enhanced on the positive traits. Finally, relationship quality predicted partner-perceptions more strongly than selfperceptions.
Morry
Marian M
MM
Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, P508 Duff Roblin, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Marian_Morry@UManitoba.ca
Reich
Tara
T
Kito
Mie
M
D000328:Adult; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult