Lecture 5

Question 1

Meta-theoretical Model

Answer 1

• Introduced in the 1990s.
• Meta-theoretical model about relationships.
• According to this model, interactions between partners determine satisfaction and stability in relationships.
• Vulnerabilities: the individual qualities that partners bring to the relationship.
• Have or lack certain skills (e.g. self-regulation).
• Circumstances of the relationships: particularly whether there are stressful circumstances.
• Most relationships start out happy before there is a decline in satisfaction, a result from external stressors.
• Whether stress has this negative effect depends on the individual’s abilities to cope with this stress.

Question 2

Motivation and Commitment

Answer 2

• Motivation and commitment are important for individuals to behave in a pro-relationship manner.
• More likely to forgive, to sacrifice, to derogate attractive alternatives, etc.
• However, sometimes we do not behave in ways that reflect our commitment to our relationships.
• Why do even the most committed individuals behave in ways destructive to relationships?
• Capacity for self-regulation.

Question 4

Dunedin Study

Answer 4

• The Dunedin study started in 1973.
• Following a thousand babies born in New Zealand and took various measures from these people across the years.
• Including measurements of self-control.
• Results from the Dunedin study.
• Various measures of self-control at different points in time.
• The level of self-regulation measured (at 10 to 15 years old) predicted health later in life.
• Lower health problems for higher self-regulation.
• The level of self-regulation measured predicted financial state later in life.
• Better financial states for higher self-regulation.
• The level of self-regulation measured predicted criminal conviction rates later in life.
• Lower criminal conviction rates for higher self-regulation.
• The level of self-regulation measured predicted relationship breakup after having a child.
• Lower levels of self-regulation: 60% single parents.
• Higher levels of self-regulation: 25% single parents.

Question 5

Marshmallow Test

Answer 5

• Marshmallow test is an indicator of self-regulation.
• Self-control at the age of 5 as measured with the marshmallow test, at age 15 predicts…
• Intelligence (r = 0.27)
• Coping competence (r = 0.23)
• Social competence (r = 0.39).

Question 6

Self-Regulation Measurement

Answer 6

• Self-regulation can be measured in two ways.
• By means of self-report: Trait self-control measure.
• By means of executive control.

Question 7

Cognitive Psychology and Executive Control

Answer 7

• Cognitive psychology.
• Are we able to inhibit certain behaviors, and especially certain impulses, and can we regulate and control those impulses such that we can engage in long-term goal-directed behavior?
• Measured with cognitive performance tasks.
• The Stroop Task: Measures inhibition control.

Question 8

Self-Control in Relationship Context

Answer 8

• Two situations in which self-control plays a crucial role in promoting pro-relationship behavior.
• How people deal with attractive alternatives.
• Immediate impulse: Go for it!
• When we are offended by our partners (in conflict).
• Immediate impulse: Retaliate!
• Self-regulation is required to behave in ways beneficial to our relationships in these two situations.

Question 9

Attractive Alternatives Study

Answer 9

• When we see a potential attractive alternative partner we tend to devaluate the attractiveness of this individual.
• Does this require self-regulation?

Task:
* Participants received 80 images of attractive or unattractive individuals.
* Half of the participants were single and the other half were in a committed relationship.
* Participants indicated whether this would be a potential partner for them.
* Some participants were not under time pressure, others were under time pressure.

Question 10

Relationship Satisfaction and Self-Regulation

Answer 10

• What is the best combination of partner self-regulation levels in a relationship?
• Similar partners have a more satisfying relationship.
• Is this also true for self-regulation?
• The sum of self-regulation of the partners predicts the satisfaction in both friendship and romantic relationships.
• More self-regulation of both partners leads to more satisfaction.
• There seems to be a negative correlation between partners where if one partner has low self-regulation the other likely has high self-regulation, indicative of complementarity.

Question 11

Mindfulness and Self-Regulation

Answer 11

• Self-regulation training in itself is not very effective.
• Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment.
• Thoughts, feelings, experiences.
• Monitoring.
• Approaching experiences with an attitude of non-judgment (acceptance).