Partner enhancement versus verification and emotional responses to daily conflict

Abstract

This study investigated the moderating role of partner enhancement and verification on couples' emotional responses to daily conflicts. Each evening for 5 weeks, 264 couples in which one partner was under stress reported whether a conflict occurred and both positive and negative relationship feelings. Partners rated each other on relationshipcentral and relationship-peripheral traits before the diary period, allowing us to examine the consequences of derogation (partner views more negative than self-views) and enhancement (partner views more positive than self-views) relative to verification. Derogation on both relationship-central and relationship-peripheral traits was associated with more negative conflict responses. Enhancement on relationship-peripheral traits was associated with more negative conflict responses than verification. Although not as consistent a pattern, results suggest that enhancement on relationship-central traits was beneficial.

Depressive symptoms and attribute type moderate effects of partner feedback among college couples

“…Our results were also consistent with Seidman and Burke's () diary study of stressed couples, which found that the enhancement of social attributes was more beneficial than was verification, whereas verification of personal attributes was more beneficial than was enhancement. Specifically, as hypothesized, individuals with more depressive symptoms responded more positively to enhancement (vs. verification) of social (vs. personal) attributes, whereas individuals with greater well‐being benefited more from enhancement of personal attributes.…”

“…In accordance, enhancement as opposed to verification of relationship‐relevant or social attributes, which are rated as the most essential quality in a long‐term partner by both genders (Buss, ), may be particularly beneficial to individuals with depressive symptoms. One recent diary study lent support to this hypothesis, finding that among a sample of stressed couples, the enhancement of more relationship‐relevant traits was generally more beneficial to conflict responses than was verification, whereas the enhancement of less relationship‐relevant traits was more damaging than was verification (Seidman & Burke, ; see footnote 1). However, it is unclear whether such a pattern could be replicated experimentally with bogus partner feedback.…”

Predicting Partner Enhancement in Marital Relationships: The Family of Origin, Attachment, and Social Network Approval

“…Perhaps avoidant individuals in this sample engaged in negative self-critiques and subsequently enhanced their partner above themselves. This self-criticism is sometimes referred to as self-devaluation or derogation in the partner enhancement literature (Seidman & Burke, 2014). While it is not clear yet whether self-devaluation is simply the opposite end of the continuum of partner enhancement or whether it is a separate construct, the results in the current study with the avoidant attachment variable suggest more study is needed.…”

Effects of relational transgressions on idealization of and disillusionment with one's romantic partner: A three‐wave longitudinal study

“…Studies have shown idealization to be beneficial for couples' relationship satisfaction and similar impressions, at least under certain conditions (Campbell, Lackenbauer, & Muise, 2006;Murray et al, 1996aMurray et al, , 1996bSeidman & Burke, 2015). In addition, Fletcher and Kerr's (2010) meta-analysis found a positive association between mean-level bias (partners rating focal individuals more favorably than the individuals rate themselves) and relationship quality.…”