Sometimes Being Different Isn't Such a Bad Thing: A Master Narrative Approach to Examining Relationship Deviations
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2015
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Award
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eng
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Haverford users only
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Abstract
It has been well established that social network approval predicts commitment in a romantic relationship. In this study, we examined how individuals in a relationship make sense of and understand their relationship on a broader, cultural context, which consists of master narratives that dictate what is typical or accepted relationship behavior. Adherence or violation of these master narratives may affect social network approval, so we examined how one contrives meaning from their ‘different’ relationship and if this process predicted Relationship Quality (commitment and satisfaction) beyond network approval. We used an online survey in which participants wrote two narratives: one about their relationship deviation and one about telling somebody else about that deviation. We found that certain narrative themes were strongly correlated with personality variables (positive and negative affect, growth, and disclosure) and Relationship Quality (growth, resolution, positive and negative affect, ending tone, and disclosure). We also found a partial mediation of positive narrative growth on the association between Growth beliefs and Relationship Quality. Finally, narrative Resolution and Disclosure were significant predictors of Relationship Quality. The implications for these findings are discussed and directions for future research are offered.