A model of relational turbulence: The role of intimacy, relational uncertainty, and interference from partners in appraisals of irritations

Abstract

The development of romantic relationships is a complex process by which previously autonomous individuals come to perceive themselves as a social unit. We propose that the transition from casual dating to serious involvement coincides with relational turbulence in courtship, and we identify relational uncertainty and interference from partners as mechanisms that may explain why this turmoil occurs. We test our model by examining people’s appraisals of irritating circumstances as a marker of relational turbulence. We conducted a cross-sectional study in which individuals evaluated the degree of severity and relationship threat of potential irritations that had occurred recently in their dating relationship. Although the effect size was small, results consistent with our predictions indicated that negative appraisals were curvilinearly associated with intimacy. Also as anticipated, we documented positive associations between negative appraisals and both relational uncertainty and interference from partners. Contrary to our expectations, however, neither relational uncertainty nor interference from partners mediated the curvilinear trajectory between negative appraisals and intimacy. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding relational turbulence in dating relationships.

Conflict Strategies and Intimacy: Variations by Romantic Relationship Development and Gender

“…Other researchers have reported on the importance of assessing intimacy in this way (Santore, 2008;Schwebel et al, 1999). Because both theory and empirical data support a linear increase in levels of intimacy (Solomon & Knobloch, 2004), we expected to find the same pattern. Unique to our study is the focus on conflict strategies rather than frequency of conflict or negative emotions.…”

“…First, Solomon, and Knobloch (2004) found empirical support that levels of intimacy increased over time (linear increase). In addition, Aune, Aune, and Buller (1994) found that romantic partners in relationships of moderate duration reported expressing the most negative emotions.…”

The Communicative and Physiological Manifestations of Relational Turbulence During the Empty-Nest Phase of Marital Relationships

“…Relational turbulence arises when changes in a relationship give rise to increased reactivity to relationship conditions (Solomon & Knobloch, 2004), which can manifest as intensified emotional, cognitive, or communicative reactions to relationship circumstances (Solomon, Weber, & Steuber, 2010). According to the model, two interrelated mechanisms give rise to relational turbulence: relational uncertainty and interference from partners.…”

“…In other circumstances, however, interference from partners tends to promote more assertive communication behavior. For instance, interference from a partner is associated with perceptions of relationship problems as more severe and relationally threatening, which promotes more direct confrontations about relationship issues (Solomon & Knobloch, 2004;Theiss & Solomon, 2006b). In addition, dating partners tend to be disaffiliative in their messages to one another when interference from partners is high (Knobloch, 2006).…”

“…First, we aim to identify relationship characteristics during the empty-nest transition that predict features of conflict interaction between spouses. To this end, we draw on the logic of the relational turbulence model, which argues that transitions in romantic relationships are ripe for upheaval due to heightened relational uncertainty and interference from partners, which contribute to increased arousal and heightened reactivity to relationship events (Solomon & Knobloch, 2004). The transition to the empty-nest phase of marriage is a transition that may be especially vulnerable to the conditions of relational turbulence, which manifest in polarized communication behavior.…”