title: Developmental and dyadic perspectives on commitment in adult romantic relationships.
abstract: We tested hypotheses concerning the developmental roots of becoming the "weak-link" (less committed) partner in adult romantic relationships and the associations between partners' absolute and relative levels of commitment and dyadic outcomes. We examined 78 target 20- to 21-year-olds who were involved in a romantic relationship and who had been studied since birth. As predicted, people who received lower-quality support from caregivers in toddlerhood or who were less able to resolve conflicts with a best friend in midadolescence were more likely to become the weak-link partner in a romantic relationship at age 20 to 21. Furthermore, lower commitment on the part of the weak-link partner coupled with greater discrepancy in commitment between partners predicted a greater likelihood that the couple would display hostility (rated by observers) during a videotaped conflict-resolution task when they were 20 to 21 years old. These findings are discussed from developmental and dyadic perspectives.
authors: St. Olaf College, Psychology Department, Northfield, MN 55057, USA. orina@stolaf.edu
authors: M Minda
authors: MM
authors: Oriña
authors: W Andrew
authors: WA
authors: Collins
authors: Jeffry A
authors: JA
authors: Simpson
authors: Jessica E
authors: JE
authors: Salvatore
authors: Katherine C
authors: KC
authors: Haydon
authors: John S
authors: JS
authors: Kim
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