Relational Maintenance and Inclusion of the Other in the Self: Measure Development and Dyadic Test of a Self-Expansion Theory Approach

Ledbetter, Andrew M.

doi:10.1080/1041794x.2013.815265

Cited by 69 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Put differently, mature doctoral students are able to recognize that part of their identity in graduate school is dependent upon the relationship they have with their advisor; thus, they engage in efforts to maintain this relationship to the best of their ability. Although self-expansion theory has previously been limited to romantic relationships (Ledbetter, 2013), the initial conclusion that identity plays an essential role in predicting communication behaviors and relational success is parallel with the results found in this study and is congruent with previous psychosocial development research (Thomas & Chickering, 1984). Put simply, the establishment of an identity appears to explain individuals' maintenance behaviors because it epitomizes the primary "representation of the self" (Aron et al, 2004, p. 38).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Chickering and Reisser noted that identity is the vector under which "all the [other] developmental vectors could be classified" (p. 173). Identity is also a central tenet of selfexpansion theory (Aron, Mashek, & Aron, 2004), which communication researchers have recently adopted into the relational maintenance literature (Ledbetter, 2013;Ledbetter, Stassen, Muhammad, & Kotey, 2010). Self-expansion theory focuses on shared identities, which encompass "the features that distinguish the person from other people and objects, primarily the characteristics, memories, and other features that locate the person in social and physical space" (Aron et al, 2004, p. 28).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Doctoral Students' Relational Communication with their Advisors: A Dyadic Examination using Chickering's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Goldman¹

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Doctoral Students' Relational Communication with their Advisors: A Dyadic Examination using Chickering's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Goldman¹

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“…Theoretical frameworks that take into account people's orientations toward relationships may be useful for understanding their use of relationship maintenance behaviors. For example, it has been suggested that people who have communal or interdependent approaches to relationships may be more likely to engage in relationship maintenance behavior (see Ledbetter, 2013;Ledbetter, Stassen, Muhammad, & Kotey, 2010;Mattingly, Oswald & Clark, 2011). One proposed theoretical framework useful for studying relationship maintenance (Ledbetter, 2010) is the inclusion of other in self model (Aron, Aron, Tudor, & Nelson, 1991).…”

Section: Theoretical Framework For Understandingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Friendship and Mental Health Functioning

King¹,

Russell²,

Veith³

2016

The Psychology of Friendship

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Sias and Bartoo (2007) described friendships as a psychological "vaccine" against both physical and mental illness. They hypothesized that prophylactic benefits are often derived from the emotional, tangible, and informational support provided in close personal friendships. Other clinical researchers have posited that broader forms of social support provide resiliency by "buffering" reactions to life stress (Turner & Brown, 2010). This chapter reviews evidence in support of the contention that personal friendships and social support enhance resiliency to stressors such as trauma, losses, maltreatment, and other developmental adversities. This literature review will be followed by an analysis of original data that provides a test of the general hypothesis that close child and adult relationships portend better overall mental health. Links between friendship and mental health indices are complex. First, friendship represents a complex construct without a uniform definition. Second, mental health symptom clusters extend across many relevant dimensions that vary in their sensitivity to interpersonal influences. Third, relationships between mental health and friendship variables, however measured, are inherently complicated by their bidirectional nature. While cause-effect relationships prove difficult to establish, collective correlational findings are useful in identifying the sorts of mental health symptom clusters that are most likely to emerge when critical social support and friendship circles have been destabilized. Defining Qualities of Friendship Hayes (1988) defined friendship as a voluntary interdependence of two persons over time involving companionship, intimacy, affection, and mutual assistance intended to facilitate the socioemotional goals of both parties. Sullivan (1953) emphasized decades ago that friendships serve many purposes including companionship, assistance, affection, intimacy, alliance, emotional security, and selfvalidation. Friendships also convey a sense of mutual value, enhance communication B e n e f i t s a n d M a i n t e n a n c e o f F r i e n d s h i p s 250 and interpersonal skills, and buffer both partners against life stressors (Bukowski, Hoza, & Boivin, 1994). Developmental Contributors to Friendship Capacity Secure and affirming parent-child relationships have been predictive of close and sustainable young adult friendships (Wise & King, 2008. Conversely, childhood maltreatment and other forms of developmental adversity may have deleterious effects on the capacity of the child to develop healthy friendships and other interpersonal relationships. Childhood abuse victims appear to have greater difficulty in initiating and sustaining satisfying peer relationships (Smith, 1995). Parental physical abuse has been found to predict less rewarding adult best friendships (Mugge, King, & Klophaus, 2009). Children from abusive homes have reported that they feel more negative toward a greater portion of their best friendships than do children with nonremarkable histories (Salzinger, Feldma...

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“…Self-expansion functions primarily as an approach motivation (Mattingly, McIntyre, & Lewandowski, 2012), and approach goals (e.g., focusing on pursuit of positive experiences in the relationship such as fun and growth) are associated with increased relationship satisfaction both on a daily level and over time. For example, selfexpansion predicts how frequently couples engage in relationship maintaining behaviors (e.g., communal orientation) such as sharing problems and trying to help one another, using humor / playful talk, and being physically affectionate (Ledbetter, 2013). Further, as self-expansion functions in part as approach motivation, it leads to increases in self-efficacy and increased effort and persistence (Mattingly, Lewandowski, & Carson, 2011;Mattingly & Lewandowski, 2013a;Mattingly & Lewandowski, 2013b), which may facilitate willingness to work on improving the relationship.…”

Section: The Benefits Of Self-expansionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The self-expansion model and optimal relationship development

Xu¹,

Lewandowski²,

Aron³

et al. 2016

Positive Approaches to Optimal Relationship Development

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In this chapter, we focus on the potential practical applications to optimal relationship development based on thinking and research from the selfexpansion model, how its application could help move couples from being dissatisfied and bored with each other, to happy and passionate with each other. We begin with a basic description of the model and a brief review of some fundamental supporting research including some recent new directions relevant to this chapter's theme. We then proceed to sections that explore general implications of the model for relationships and, specific ways that one can make use of such implications for optimizing self-expansion in relationships (notably shared novel and challenging activities). We then consider (for the first time) applied implications of a new research directionhow individual (non-relational) self-expansion can benefit relationship development. Finally, we conclude with some possible future directions. the self-expansion modelIn this section we elucidate the basic model itself, the foundation of the applications we will be discussing, including briefly reviewing some of the basic research support, and noting emerging directions, all emphasizing the aspects most relevant to optimal relationship development. The modelThe self-expansion model (Aron & Aron, 1986; for a recent review, see Aron, Lewandowski, Mashek, & Aron, 2013) was developed to address theoretical and applied questions about basic processes underlying experiences and behaviors in the context of close relationships (and since, extended to other contexts). The model has two key principles:The authors would like to thank Stephanie Kaplan and Sierra Kauer for their assistance in the preparation of this chapter. 79of use, available at https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.

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Relational Maintenance and Inclusion of the Other in the Self: Measure Development and Dyadic Test of a Self-Expansion Theory Approach

Cited by 69 publications

References 35 publications

Doctoral Students' Relational Communication with their Advisors: A Dyadic Examination using Chickering's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Doctoral Students' Relational Communication with their Advisors: A Dyadic Examination using Chickering's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Friendship and Mental Health Functioning

The self-expansion model and optimal relationship development

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