Browsing by Subject "Separation (Psychology)"

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
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    A prototype analysis of missing : centrality, valence, and correlates of the experience of interpersonal separation
    (2003) Fiorentino, Remy
    To date there has been no research on the experience of 'missing' in romantic relationships. The current study seeks to define and analyze the concept of missing from a prototype perspective. In Study 1, subjects listed features of missing. In Study 2, centrality and valence rankings for these features were collected, and a prototype of missing was created. Analysis revealed significant differences in how each gender defined missing. Analysis also revealed a number of significant correlations between specific feature ratings and attachment style, implicit theories of relationships, self-esteem, and neuroticism. The correlations between centrality/valence of features and certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem, suggest serious potential problems in the context of a 'missing' situation. Each independent variable yielded a prototype that differed significantly from the general prototype, suggesting that it may be crucial to relationship stability and satisfaction to understand how one's partner might define missing differently from one's self.
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    A Prototype Analysis of Missing in a Geographically Separated Relationship: Validation, Correlates, and Implications
    (2005) Feinberg, Emily; Le, Benjamin
    The current research used a prototype analysis to study the experience of missing a partner in a geographically separated relationship. In Study 1, the prototype of missing was validated using cognitive tasks and relationship vignettes. As hypothesized, results showed more recall for central features and more false recognition for central features. Relationships including central features were also rated as experiencing more “missing” than relationship including non-central features. In Study 2, the experience of missing was looked at in a long distance relationship sample. Using an online survey, a missing scale created using its prototype, was measured in addition to commitment, loneliness, and other various relationship and personality dimensions. As hypothesized, results found a moderate correlation between missing and commitment and a small, but significant correlation between missing and loneliness. These findings validated the prototypical structure of missing and also found it to be separate from the experience of loneliness. The function of missing as a pro-relationship motivation was also discussed. Future research on the experience of missing in relation to individual and relationship differences is suggested, in addition to a focus on the nature of the separation and relationship involved.
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    A Prototype Analysis of Missing in Geographically Separated Romantic Relationships: Validation and Correlates of the Experience of Missing
    (2005) Johnson, Katherine; Le, Benjamin
    There is a growing literature examining the functioning of geographically separated couples and missing is a common experience in long distance relationships. The purpose of Study 1 was to validate the prototype of missing established by Le et al. (2004) through the use of two cognitive memory tasks and a hypothetical relationship task using vignettes. As hypothesized, the sample (N = 92) falsely recalled and falsely recognized central terms of missing more than non-central terms. Vignettes describing relationships with central terms were rated as missing more than relationships described with non-central terms. The purpose of Study 2 was to investigate the experience of missing through the use of an internet study in couples currently separated from their romantic partner (N = 435). The measure of missing demonstrated discriminate validity from the UCLA Loneliness Scale-supporting the hypothesis that missing overlaps but is yet distinct from loneliness. Individuals who missed their partners more were more committed, more securely or anxiously attached and more dependent than those individuals who missed their partners less. Missing serves as a relationship maintenance mechanism to promote behaviors that preserve the relationship in the face of geographic separation.
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    A Prototype Analysis of the Concept of Missing
    (2003) Adams, Sam; Le, Benjamin; Sternberg, Wendy
    Missing a romantic partner is a significant aspect in many peoples' lives; however, there has not been any past research about this experience. The current study is an attempt to define and analyze this concept by using prototype analysis. In Study 1, 77 college students listed features of missing a romantic partner. In Study 2, rankings for centrality and valence of these features were collected from 71 college students. Through the analysis significant differences were discovered between how each gender defines missing. Analysis also revealed a number of relationships, and self-esteem. The study found that differences in the aforementioned sub-tests were correlated with individuals' rating of centrality and valence for the various features. This suggests that understanding how one's partner defines missing may be crucial to relationship stability and satisfaction.
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    Dealing with Romantic Rejection: The Effect of Implicit Theories and Self-Esteem on Rejection Narratives
    (2008) Yasinski, Carly; Lilgendahl, Jennifer
    Effects of Dweck’s model of implicit self-theories on narratives of romantic rejection are investigated. Specifically, an entity theory of personality, or a view that personality cannot change, and an incremental theory of personality, or view that personality can change, were found to be both causally and correlationally associated with the manner in which participants narrated personal experiences of romantic rejection. Implicit theories of personality interacted with self-esteem in their effects on these narratives, as well as exhibited separate main effects. An experimental study showed that participants primed with an entity theory were more likely than participants primed with an incremental theory to exhibit defensive processing such as self-protection and to attribute their rejection to the person who rejected them. In addition, this experimental study showed that people with high self-esteem tended to narrate experiences of romantic rejection in a more emotionally positive manner than people with low self-esteem, with those primed with an incremental theory with high self-esteem showing more positive change in their narratives than most other participants. The correlational study showed that entity theorists with low self-esteem tended to exhibit less positive change in their narratives, and have a more helpless mindset towards future romantic endeavors than all other participants. Implications for future studies regarding the priming of implicit self-theories and the study of these theories in relational to narrative processing are discussed.
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    Missing a Loved One and The Role of Need Fulfillment
    (2010) Eyerer, Anna; Le, Benjamin
    The current study explored the role of need fulfillment in the experience of missing a romantic partner. The sample consisted of 163 participants from ages 17 to 24 in long-distance romantic relationships and currently geographically separated from their partners. Participants took an online survey where they rated their need fulfillment, expectations of need fulfillment, need importance, and social network need fulfillment of 22 needs. The survey also measured participants’ amount of missing, relationship commitment, and attachment dimensions. The results found a positive relationship between need fulfillment and missing and a moderating effect of anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions on this relationship. Additionally, commitment correlated positively with missing which replicates past research. Based on the current findings and considering Interdependence Theory, it was concluded that need fulfillment serves as a predictor of missing because need fulfillment produces dependence on a romantic partner and subsequent commitment.
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    Need Fulfillment and Missing a Partner in Long Distance Romantic Relationships
    (2010) Porter, Jaclyn; Le, Benjamin; Sternberg, Wendy
    In this study, the phenomenon of missing a romantic partner in a long-distance relationship (LDR) was investigated. One hundred sixty-three members of LDRs between the ages of 18-24 completed an online survey advertised on a social networking site and the Haverford College message boards. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between need fulfillment (NF) and missing a romantic partner as well as moderating variables such as expectations for a romantic partner to fulfill each need, the importance of each need, the fulfillment of each need by a social network member, participant sex, and attachment dimensions. A significant positive correlation was found between NF and missing a partner and significant interactions were found between NF and attachment avoidance, and NF and attachment anxiety in predicting missing a partner. It is suspected that commitment plays an important role in the association between NF and missing. Strengths, limitations, and areas for future research are discussed.
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    Need Fulfillment and Missing in Long Distance Relationships
    (2010) Mezoff, Charlotte; Le, Benjamin
    In the context of long distance relationships, we examined the association between individuals' need fulfillment and the extent to which they missed their partner. We predicted that need fulfillment would be negatively associated with missing, such that the less an individual's relationship needs are being met, the more he or she will miss his or her partner. In a correlational analysis, need fulfillment positively predicted missing a partner, contrary to our main hypothesis. Moderated multiple regression analyses revealed no significant interactions between need fulfillment and need expectations, need importance, biological sex, or need fulfillment by social networks.
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    Prototype Analysis of the Concept of Missing
    (2003) Porricelli, Lisa A.; Le, Benjamin; Sternberg, Wendy
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    The Missing Piece: Need Fulfillment and Missing in Long Distance Relationships
    (2010) MacPhee, William V.
    This research examines the ways in which need fulfillment and missing interacts in long distance relationships. Missing is a recently developed construct that relates to an array of behavior such as reminiscing one engages in when apart from a partner, and has yet to be explored in this context. Given the nature of being geographically separated from a partner, certain needs that are central to a relationship go unfulfilled, which should result in greater missing. It was also expected that factors such as need importance, fulfillment, participant sex, social networks, and attachment would serve as moderators that will either enhance of decrease the original interaction. In order to test such predictions, a survey was developed and given to subjects specifically in long distance relationships. The data was then analyzed through correlations and regressions. The results found a positive relationship between need fulfillment and missing, which was the opposite of what was predicted. Additionally, it was found that none of the moderators except attachment were significant, but this again was the opposite of the original prediction. What this shows is that need fulfillment can be seen as substitute for missing and greater attachment avoidance leads to greater more missing when needs are met.