To Idealize or Not to Idealize? Perceptions of Positive and Negative Events in Romantic Relationships

Differences in the Way to Conceive Happiness Relate to Different Reactions to Negative Events

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000246 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 27-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Giulia Fuochi ◽

Chiara A. Veneziani ◽

Alberto Voci

Keyword(s):

Positive Emotions ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Protective Role ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Negative Events ◽

Orientations To Happiness ◽

Specific Reactions ◽

The Way

Abstract. This paper aimed to assess whether differences in the way to conceive happiness, measured by the Orientations to Happiness measure, were associated with specific reactions to negative events. We hypothesized that among orientations to pleasure (portraying hedonism), to meaning (representing a eudaimonic approach to life), and to engagement (derived from the experience of flow), orientation to meaning would have displayed a stronger protective role against recent negative and potentially stressful events. After providing a validation of the Italian version of the Orientations to Happiness measure (Study 1), we performed regression analyses of the three orientations on positive and negative emotions linked to a self-relevant negative event (Study 2), and moderation analyses assessing the interactive effects of orientations to happiness and stressful events on well-being indicators (Study 3). Our findings supported the hypotheses. In Study 2, meaning was associated with positive emotions characterized by a lower activation (contentment and interest) compared to the positive emotions associated with pleasure (amusement, eagerness, and happiness). In Study 3, only meaning buffered the effect of recent potentially stressful events on satisfaction with life and positive affect. Results suggest that orientation to meaning might help individuals to better react to negative events.

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Narcissism and Perceived Inequity in Attractiveness in Romantic Relationships

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000025 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 295-302 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Elke Rohmann ◽

Hans-Werner Bierhoff ◽

Martina Schmohr

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Gender Effect ◽

Dyadic Analysis ◽

Dyadic Data ◽

Actor Partner Interdependence Model ◽

Narcissistic Personality ◽

Intraclass Correlations ◽

Narcissistic Personality Inventory ◽

Additional Variance

In three studies of romantic relationships (N = 253, N = 81, and N = 98) the hypothesis was tested that high narcissists, relative to low narcissists, distort the assessment of equity in attractiveness. Narcissism was measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. In Study 1 the hypothesis was confirmed. In Study 2 it was shown that although narcissism correlated significantly with self-esteem, it was the unique variance in narcissism which predicted the tendency to feel underbenefited in respect to attractiveness. Finally in Study 3, dyadic data were analyzed on the basis of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. The data of 49 couples who lived together were included. The dyadic analysis indicated that actor narcissism exerted the expected influence on perceived inequity in attractiveness, whereas partner narcissism explained no additional variance. High narcissists felt more underbenefited than low narcissists. The analysis of dyadic data in Study 3 indicates that the link between narcissism and equity in attractiveness turns out to be an intrapersonal phenomenon because only actor narcissism, not partner narcissism, is significantly correlated with perceived inequity. In addition, partial intraclass correlations revealed that if one partner tended to feel underbenefited, the other partner tended to feel overbenefited. The results are explained on the basis of the agentic model of narcissism. All three studies consistently revealed a gender effect indicating that women felt more underbenefited than men in terms of attractiveness.

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Daily Fluctuations in Work Engagement

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000160 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 227-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Arnold B. Bakker

Keyword(s):

Job Performance ◽

Work Engagement ◽

Research Evidence ◽

Organizational Outcomes ◽

Reciprocal Relationship ◽

Proactive Behavior ◽

Negative Events ◽

Daily Work ◽

Work Pressure ◽

Diary Research

This article presents an overview of the literature on daily fluctuations in work engagement. Daily work engagement is a state of vigor, dedication, and absorption that is predictive of important organizational outcomes, including job performance. After briefly discussing enduring work engagement, the advantages of diary research are discussed, as well as the concept and measurement of daily work engagement. The research evidence shows that fluctuations in work engagement are a function of the changes in daily job and personal resources. Particularly on the days that employees have access to many resources, they are able to cope well with their daily job demands (e.g., work pressure, negative events), and likely interpret these demands as challenges. Furthermore, the literature review shows that on the days employees have sufficient levels of job control, they proactively try to optimize their work environment in order to stay engaged. This proactive behavior is called job crafting and predicts momentary and daily work engagement. An important additional finding is that daily engagement has a reciprocal relationship with daily recovery. On the days employees recover well, they feel more engaged; and engagement during the day is predictive of subsequent recovery. Finding the daily balance between engagement while at work and detachment while at home seems the key to enduring work engagement.

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Initiating, Maintaining, or Breaking Up?

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000200 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (5) ◽

pp. 408-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Michela Menegatti ◽

Monica Rubini

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Romantic Relationship ◽

Self Disclosure ◽

Level Of Abstraction ◽

Problematic Relationship ◽

Abstract Language ◽

Language Abstraction

Two studies examined whether individuals vary the level of abstraction of messages composed to achieve the relational goals of initiating, maintaining, and ending a romantic relationships when the goal of communication was self-disclosure or persuading one’s partner. Study 1 showed that abstract language was preferred to disclose thoughts and feelings about initiating a romantic relationship or to persuade the partner to consolidate a long-term one. Study 2 revealed that participants used abstract terms to persuade the partner to continue a problematic relationship and to disclose their thoughts on ending it. These results show that language abstraction is a flexible means to handle individuals’ goals and influence the course of romantic relationships.

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