Amy Canevello

Self-determination and conflict in romantic relationships.

Four studies examined associations between E. L. Deci and R. M. Ryans (1985, 2000) construct of autonomy, responses to relationship disagreements, and dissatisfaction after conflict. In Study 1, diary data showed that trait autonomy predicted relationship autonomy, which in turn predicted relative satisfaction after disagreements. In Study 2, trait autonomy predicted relationship autonomy, which was associated with less defensive and more understanding responses to conflict. Studies 3 and 4 examined whether ones partners relationship autonomy uniquely predicted reported and observed behavior during conflict. Autonomous reasons for being in the relationship (of both self and partner) predicted both reported and observed responses to conflict and feelings of satisfaction.

Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem and the Ups and Downs of Romantic Relationships

Relationship-contingent self-esteem (RCSE) emerges from perspectives on authenticity, need fulfillment, and relationship functioning and is an unhealthy form of self-esteem that depends on ones relationship. Four studies provided evidence of convergent, discriminant, incremental, and predictive validity for RCSE. Study 1 tested associations between RCSE and several conceptually related and unrelated constructs in multiple samples. In Study 2, the authors employed an event-contingent diary procedure to examine reports of self-esteem as a function of everyday relationship events. The association between event valence and changes in self-esteem became stronger with RCSE, and this interaction remained controlling for several parallel interactions by other constructs. Study 3 employed an interval-contingent diary procedure and found support for a mediation model in which the moderating role of RCSE largely occurred through momentary emotions, which in turn predicted momentary self-esteem. Study 4 sampled couples and found that partners who were both higher in RCSE felt more committed but not more satisfied or close.

Interpersonal Goals and Change in Anxiety and Dysphoria in First-Semester College Students

Two longitudinal studies examined the associations between interpersonal goals (i.e., self-image and compassionate goals) and anxiety and dysphoria (i.e., distress). In Study 1, 199 college freshmen (122 women, 77 men) completed 12 surveys over 12 weeks. Compassionate goals predicted decreased distress, and self-image goals predicted increased distress from pretest to posttest when distress was assessed as anxiety, dysphoria, or a composite, and when the goals were worded as approach goals, avoidance goals, or a composite. In Study 2, 115 first-semester roommate pairs (86 female and 29 male pairs) completed 12 surveys over 12 weeks. Compassionate and self-image goals predicted distress in same-week, lagged-week, and pretest-to-posttest analyses; effects of compassionate goals remained significant when the authors controlled for several known risk factors. Having clear goals consistently explained the association between compassionate goals but not self-image goals and distress. Results supported a path model in which compassionate goals predict increased support given to roommates, which predicts decreased distress. Results also supported a reciprocal association; chronic distress predicted decreased compassionate and increased self-image goals from pretest to posttest, and weekly distress predicted decreased compassionate goals the subsequent week. The results suggest that compassionate goals contribute to decreased distress because they provide meaning and increase support given to others. Distress, in turn, predicts change in goals, creating the potential for upward and downward spirals of goals and distress.

Chapter five – Consequences of Self-image and Compassionate Goals

Abstract Interpersonal goals are a key mechanism through which people and their social environments influence each other. Two goals—self-image and compassionate goals—the motivational systems that energize these goals, their measurement, and how they relate to other constructs in the literature are described. Results of three longitudinal studies of first-year college students suggest that when people have self-image goals—that is, when they try to manage the impressions others have of them—they create a cascade of unintended negative consequences for both themselves and others. In contrast, when people try to contribute to the well-being of other people, they create a cascade of positive consequences for both themselves and others. Over time, for better or worse, by changing what they experience, people actually change themselves—the beliefs they hold and their goals, self-esteem, and even dispositional tendencies. We describe a variety of processes through which peoples interpersonal goals shape their own and others’ experience and raise several remaining issues for this program of research.

Risk communication and worry about breast cancer

Feedback concerning breast cancer risk was provided to 59 college-aged women who were overestimating their personal risk. In a 2 (Absolute Risk Feedback; yes or no) × 2 (Comparative Risk Feedback; yes or no) design, women completed a brief risk questionnaire and then received both, one, or neither kind of risk feedback. Absolute information reduced estimates of vulnerability, although not to the levels suggested by the feedback. Absolute feedback had no effect on worry about breast cancer, but worry was lower for women who learned that they were no more at risk than other, similar women.

Dental Practitioners and Eating Disorders

To better understand how dental practitioners identify, counsel, and refer patients with eating disorders. A questionnaire was mailed to 625 dental practitioners, 54 (19%) of the dentists and 69 (20%) of the dental hygienists responded. Most dental practitioners were aware of eating disorder patients in their practices and most discussed their findings with their patients or parents. However, one of the suggestions most commonly given to patients, to brush immediately after vomiting, may be counter therapeutic, and a few offered referral for more health services. Collaboration between dental practitioners and mental health practitioners who work with eating disorder patients should be improved.

Romantic relationships in the ecosystem:: Compassionate goals, nonzero-sum beliefs, and change in relationship quality.

According to the egosystem-ecosystem theory of social motivation, people with ecosystem motivation believe their interpersonal relationships work in nonzero-sum ways. A longitudinal study of individuals in romantic relationships and a study of romantic couples who had a conflict discussion in the laboratory both showed that compassionate goals predict increased nonzero-sum beliefs through increased responsiveness and perceptions of partner’s responsiveness and that nonzero-sum beliefs uniquely predict increased relationship quality through increased optimism that relationship problems can be overcome. The results support the view that motivational orientations shape people’s lay theories that their relationship works in zero-sum or nonzero-sum ways, and further show that nonzero-sum beliefs are an important and unique predictor of change in relationship quality independent of responsiveness or perceived partner responsiveness.

Relationships and the self: Egosystem and ecosystem.

Most social scientists assume that people are fundamentally self-interested, that they do what they perceive to be advantageous to themselves (Miller, 1999). Unsurprisingly, this view pervades research on the self, in which people are depicted as selfenhancing and self-protective, seeking validation and affirmation, and taking credit for successes but dodging blame for failures. Perhaps more surprising, this view also pervades a great deal of research on relationships, which presumably involve shared bonds between people and feelings such as closeness, caring, affection, or love. Many researchers assume that people in relationships, as in the rest of their lives, are fundamentally self-centered and self-serving. In this view, people want to be in relationships to promote their own ends, they use relationship partners to satisfy their own needs, and they sacrifice and compromise in relationships to keep their relationship partners happy so they can continue to reap benefits the relationship brings them. Being desired, idealized, and accepted by another person are peak relationship experiences, whereas being unwanted, criticized, or rejected are ultimate downers. Although this view surely describes many relationships at least some of the time, we believe that it is at best incomplete and at worst wildly misleading as a depiction of the self in relationships. In this chapter, we begin by articulating the self-centered view of relationships that dominates much research and theory on relationships and the self. Consistent with our previous work, we call this orientation to relationships egosystem motivation (Crocker, 2008; Crocker & Canevello, 2008, 2012b; Crocker, Olivier, & Nuer, 2009). We first describe this system in general terms that apply to most, if not all, types of relationships. Then, because romantic relationships are the focus of a great deal of interest and research, we describe the principles of romantic relationships driven by egosystem motivation. We next describe an emerging alternate view, in which people have the capacity to transcend selfinterest and care deeply about people and things beyond themselves, which we call ecosystem motivation (Crocker, 2008; Crocker & Canevello, 2008, 2012b; Crocker et al., 2006). In relationships, people driven by ecosystem motivation seek to promote the well-being of the relationship partner not out of selfish motives to obtain benefits in return, but because they care about the partner or because both people care about the well-being of someone or something beyond themselves. We describe this perspective in general terms and then consider the principles of romantic relationships from the ecosystem perspective. We consider factors that predict which set of principles—those of the egosystem or those of the ecosystem—will best describe a particular relationship at a particular moment. We then suggest a number of issues for future research.

Compassionate goals and affect in social situations

Optimal social interactions can leave people feeling socially connected and at ease, which has clear implications for health and psychological well-being. Yet, not all social interactions leave people feelings at ease and connected. What explains this variability? We draw from the egosystem–ecosystem theory of social motivation (Crocker and Canevello 2008) to suggest that compassionate goals to support others explain some of this variability. We explored the nature of this association across four studies and varying social contexts. Across studies, compassionate goals predicted greater feelings of ease and connection. Results also indicate that a cooperative mindset may be one mechanism underlying this association: Findings suggest a temporal sequence in which compassionate goals lead to cooperative mindsets, which then lead to feeling at ease and connected. Thus, these studies suggest that people’s compassionate goals lead to their sense of interpersonal ease and connection, which may ultimately have implications for their sense of belonging.

Posttraumatic Growth: Spouses’ Relationship Quality and Psychological Distress

ABSTRACT While research links interpersonal processes to posttraumatic growth (PTG; Calhoun & Tedeschi, 2006a), little is known about whether partners’ PTG has consequences for people’s (i.e., actors’) relationship functioning and psychological distress. Sixty-one married couples who had experienced severe flooding completed measures of PTG, perceptions of spouses’ PTG, relationship quality, and psychological distress 6 and 12 months following the event. Partners’ increased PTG predicted actors’ increased perceptions of partners’ PTG, which predicted actors’ increased relationship quality, which, in turn, predicted actors’ decreased psychological distress. Thus, partners’ PTG can benefit spouses’ evaluations of their relationship and, ultimately, actors’ psychological well-being.