The Distorting Lens of Psychology's Individualism and a Social Realist Alternative

Fowers, Blaine J.; Novak, Lukas F.; Calder, Alexander J.; Sommer, Robert

doi:10.4324/9781003036517-6

Cited by 18 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Some of these measures, however, take a more individualistic, hedonistic, or exchange view of relationship quality. Indeed, some scholars have challenged individualistic assumptions common in relationship research (Knapp & Lott, 2010; Slife & Wiggins, 2009), arguing that “relationships are not mere add‐ons to already complete, separate individuals; relationships are necessary to becoming individuals and to maintaining our individuality” (Fowers et al, 2022, p. 93; see also Baumeister & Leary, 1995). With this in mind, more recently, scholars have argued that eudaimonic (flourishing) and communal measures of relationship quality may yield a richer understanding, including measures such as the relationship flourishing scale (Fowers et al, 2016), the relational‐connectivity scale (Galovan, Carroll, et al, 2022), measures of communal strength (Mills et al, 2004), and the couple flourishing measure (Sanri et al, 2021).…”

Section: In‐depth Review Of Dyadic Relationship Quality Articlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taking stock of the longitudinal study of romantic couple relationships: The last 20 years

Galovan

Orbuch

Shrout

et al. 2022

Personal Relationships

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Longitudinal dyadic research provides significant benefits for our understanding of romantic couple relationships. In this systematic review, we begin by providing a broad overview of topical trends and approaches in longitudinal couple relationships research from 2002 through 2021. Then, we narrow our review to dyadic relationship quality articles, highlighting key themes as well as noting important gaps in the research. Using an intersectional perspective that acknowledges multiple ways that disadvantage, power, and oppression may be seen in both research and in couples' lived experience, we note prominent paradigms used in examining couple relationships, what types of questions have been most valued, and what groups and approaches are underrepresented in the literature. Most longitudinal couple relationships research is quantitative, relies on self‐report approaches from American couples in the early‐to‐middle years of their relationships, concentrates more on negative aspects of relationships than positives, and takes a communication‐satisfaction paradigm in studying couples. We see a clear need to increase the use of methodologies beyond self‐report measures, conduct more studies with within‐group minority, older adult, culturally‐diverse, and context‐specific samples to explore the diversity of relationships, and fully consider both strengths and positive processes in relationships as well as the challenges couples experience.

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Section: In‐depth Review Of Dyadic Relationship Quality Articlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Taking stock of the longitudinal study of romantic couple relationships: The last 20 years

Galovan

Orbuch

Shrout

et al. 2022

Personal Relationships

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“…In contrast, we argue that mindfulness can be more richly understood by taking a strongly relational perspective, which holds that individuals are defined first by their relationships, “already and always related to one another” (Slife & Wiggins, 2009, p. 18; see also Gergen, 2009). In other words, “it is in relationship [with others] that new aspects of self and other are brought to awareness” (Butterbaugh & Wood, 2020, p. 404) because we are “primarily social beings, with individuality emerging from our social embeddedness” (Fowers et al, 2022 p. 79). With this view, “an individual does not partake in social relations, but emerges from them” (p. 85).…”

Section: A Strongly Relational Basis For Mindfulness As a Component O...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A strong relationality view of mindfulness and flourishing I–Thou relations: A dyadic analysis.

Galovan¹,

Osorio²,

Crapo³

et al. 2022

Journal of Family Psychology

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Despite the increasing popularity of mindfulness and research concerning its role in relationships, there is limited strongly relational theoretical discussion explaining the role of mindfulness in intimate couple relationships. In this article, we articulate a strongly relational view of the role of mindfulness in couple relationships. We then empirically test theoretically relevant associations using dyadic data (N = 514 heterosexual couples) from couples in the U.S. and Canada. In Study 1, we evaluated a model with male and female mindfulness predicting couple relational-connectivity (a sense of friendship, intimacy, and belonging) through couple responsible actions (behaviors intentionally enacted to strengthen couple connection), which indicated a fully mediated effect; the influence of male and female mindfulness on couple relational-connectivity was fully accounted for by associations with couple responsible actions (indirect standardized betas of .08). With a subsample of 120 of these couples, in Study 2 we used a daily diary design to explore how mindfulness was associated with ethical responsiveness (a tendency to respond benevolently to a perceived need), responsible actions, and relational-connectivity at the within-person level. Study 1 results were reinforced, showing stronger associations in these within-person analyses (indirect standardized betas of .21 and .23). In conceptualizing individual mindfulness and ethical responsiveness as dimensions of a more relational form of mindfulness, one way by which mindfulness may influence couples’ relational-connectivity is through its influence on responsible actions. These results provide initial support for using a strongly relational paradigm to understand the role of mindfulness in intimate couple relationships.

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“…research (Fowers, Carroll, et al, 2021), and everyday life (Fowers, Novak, et al, 2021). To the degree that we as scholars can follow Philip's example of how to proceed by embodying the authenticity, compassion, passion, and humility that he showed us in this and his many writings, it will be possible for us to maintain hope and make our way, step by step, to a better future.…”

mentioning

confidence: 95%

“…In my view, Philip did this quite well in this article, with his emphases on democracy and dignity, and we scholars would do well to build on the vision of the future that he provided. Some of us have been attempting to articulate these aims in domains such as education (Kristjánsson, 2020), research (Fowers, Carroll, et al, 2021), and everyday life (Fowers, Novak, et al, 2021). To the degree that we as scholars can follow Philip’s example of how to proceed by embodying the authenticity, compassion, passion, and humility that he showed us in this and his many writings, it will be possible for us to maintain hope and make our way, step by step, to a better future.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cushman on Trumpist populism and its alternative: How authenticity, compassion, passion, humility, and hope can point the way forward.

Fowers

2024

Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology

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This commentary is a response to Cushman’s article on Trumpist populism and its alternatives. I comment on the humanity of Cushman’s description of those susceptible to populism, which shows up in his authenticity, compassion, passion, humility, and hope. Cushman provides a masterful example of how we can heal our collective political wounds and move beyond an unproductive polarization in our politics.

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The Distorting Lens of Psychology's Individualism and a Social Realist Alternative

Cited by 18 publications

References 0 publications

Taking stock of the longitudinal study of romantic couple relationships: The last 20 years

Taking stock of the longitudinal study of romantic couple relationships: The last 20 years

A strong relationality view of mindfulness and flourishing I–Thou relations: A dyadic analysis.

Cushman on Trumpist populism and its alternative: How authenticity, compassion, passion, humility, and hope can point the way forward.

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