Elucidating the Effect of Perceived Power on Destructive Responses during Romantic Conflicts

Abstract

Prior research has indicated that the people one loves the most, such as their romantic partners, ironically, are also the people toward whom they often direct destructive behaviors in times of conflict, and such destructive responses become one of the most challenging relationship problems. Identifying the conditions that promote destructive (vs. constructive) conflict-resolution strategies is a crucial gap requiring study to help individuals build healthier and happier relationships. Across three studies (total N = 728), we examined whether (a) power is related to direct destructive (vs. constructive) responses during romantic conflicts; (b) this effect was moderated by the seriousness of the conflict and the relationship’s inclusiveness. In Study 1, participants involved in romantic relationships completed scales assessing interpersonal power, the conflict’s seriousness, their relationship’s inclusiveness, and conflict-resolution responses. In Studies 2-3, the participants were randomly assigned to complete an essay in which the conflict’s seriousness and power were experimentally manipulated. Findings from hierarchical regression analyses consistently showed that power led to destructive (and lower constructive) responses. However, this only occurred when the participants faced severe conflicts and their partner was not central to their self-concept. An internal meta-analysis of the studies confirmed the reliability and significance of these relationships; |r’s| =.13-37. Together, these results support the proposition that power asymmetries can threaten relationships by driving destructive responses during romantic conflicts, and untangle the conditions under which this happens. The conflict’s seriousness and the inclusiveness of the relationship may be considered to provide skills that help individuals navigate their relationships’ life challenges.

Inclusion of the partner in the self and its association with relational quality and quality of life: an analysis based on the actor-partner interdependence model / La inclusión de la pareja en el yo y su asociación con la calidad relacional y vital: un análisis basado en el modelo de interdependencia actor-pareja

“…A review of the literature suggests that IOS has a crucial influence on people and their intimate relationships. However, most previous studies have sought to analyse the effect of a person's IOS on their relational quality and quality of life (e.g., Alonso-Ferres et al, 2021;Ketay et al, 2017;Leary et al, 2008;Muise et al, 2019;Pietras et al, 2021) actor effect, which limits our understanding of how IOS may influence the everyday lives of both members of the relationship.…”

“…La revisión de la literatura sugiere que la IOS tiene una influencia crucial en las personas y sus relaciones íntimas. Sin embargo, la mayor parte de las investigaciones anteriores se han centrado en analizar el efecto que la propia IOS de una persona tiene en su calidad relacional y vital (e.g., Alonso-Ferres et al, 2021;Ketay et al, 2017;Leary et al, 2008;Muise et al, 2019;Pietras et al, 2021) actor effect, lo que limita nuestra comprensión de cómo la IOS puede influir en el curso de la vida cotidiana de ambos miembros de la relación.…”

“…Generally speaking, it has been found that a high inclusion of the partner in the self is associated with fewer conflicts in the relationship (Kang et al, 2010). Furthermore, IOS is positively associated with the use of constructive conflict-resolution strategies and negatively with destructive strategies (Alonso-Ferres et al, 2021; Gesell et al, 2020). The studies by Scholl et al (2018) and Walsh and Neff (2018) have also proven that people with high levels of IOS show higher motivation to provide constructive responses to partner conflicts by prioritizing the needs of the other person and setting their own aside.…”

“…De manera general, se ha revelado que una alta inclusión de la pareja en el yo se asocia a la presencia de un menor número de conflictos en la relación (Kang et al, 2010). Además, la IOS se asocia positivamente al uso de estrategias constructivas de resolución de conflictos y negativamente al de estrategias destructivas (Alonso-Ferres et al, 2021; Gesell et al, 2020). Las investigaciones de Scholl et al (2018) y Walsh y Neff (2018) también han demostrado que las personas con niveles altos de IOS presentan una mayor motivación para dar respuestas de afrontamiento constructivas ante los conflictos de pareja, favoreciendo las necesidades de la otra persona y dejando de lado las suyas propias.…”