C. Raymond Knee

Consequences of self-handicapping : Effects on coping, academic performance, and adjustment

Self-handicappers erect impediments to performance to protect their self-esteem. The impediments may interfere with the ability to do well and, as such, may result in poor adjustment. Using a longitudinal design, the present studies examined prospective effects of self-handicapping on coping, academic performance, and several adjustment-related variables (e.g., self-esteem). It was found that, compared to low self-handicappers, high self-handicappers reported higher usage of coping strategies implying withdrawal and negative focus. High self-handicappers performed less well academically, an effect that was mediated in part by poor study habits. Finally, high self-handicapping resulted in poorer adjustment over time, and poorer adjustment resulted in higher self-handicapping over time. These relations are consistent with the idea of a vicious cycle in which self-handicapping and poor adjustment reinforce one another.

The Role of Autonomy in Promoting Healthy Dyadic, Familial, and Parenting Relationships Across Cultures

The chapter explains how autonomy, as defined in self-determination theory, facilitates closeness. Self-determination theory is fundamentally a theory of optimal relationship development and functioning. Basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness guide the motivational underpinnings of relational well-being. Autonomy, in particular, promotes openness rather than defensiveness and facilitates perspective-taking, authenticity, support of close others, and intrinsic rather than extrinsic investment in one’s relationships. Among couples, relationship autonomy and need fulfillment are associated with numerous positive relationship processes and outcomes such as more understanding and relationship-maintaining responses to conflicts and disagreements. Among families, parental autonomy support is associated with various indicators of positive internalization, self-development, and relational health and well-being. Autonomy thus seems important for healthy, optimally functioning personal relationships. Further cross-cultural research is needed. We argue that there is room for both essentialist and cultural relativist perspectives on autonomy as being necessary for optimal relational well-being.

Self-Determination and Regulation of Conflict in Romantic Relationships

The chapter explains how self-determination, as defined in self-determination theory, facilitates regulation of conflict in romantic relationships. Self-determination theory is fundamentally a theory of optimal relationship development and functioning. Basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness guide the motivational underpinnings of relational well-being in much the same way they guide individual well-being. Autonomy, in particular, promotes openness rather than defensiveness and facilitates perspective-taking, authenticity, support of close others, and intrinsic rather than extrinsic investment in one’s relationships. As in other contexts, the satisfaction of basic psychological needs can be promoted or thwarted in romantic relationships. Among couples, relationship autonomy and need fulfillment are associated with positive relationship processes and outcomes such as more understanding and relationship-maintaining responses to conflicts and disagreements. The dyadic context of romantic relationships affords great opportunity for theoretical development and integration of self-determination theory with current theories of interdependence and conflict regulation in close relationships.

Positive Approaches to Optimal Relationship Development

How can we get the most out of our close relationships? Research in the area of personal relationships continues to grow, but most prior work has emphasized how to overcome negative aspects. This volume demonstrates that a good relationship is more than simply the absence of a bad relationship, and that establishing and maintaining optimal relationships entails enacting a set of processes that are distinct from merely avoiding negative or harmful behaviors. Drawing on recent relationship science to explore issues such as intimacy, attachment, passion, sacrifice, and compassionate goals, the essays in this volume emphasize the positive features that allow relationships to flourish. In doing so, they integrate several theoretical perspectives, concepts, and mechanisms that produce optimal relationships. The volume also includes a section on intensive and abbreviated interventions that have been empirically validated to be effective in promoting the positive features of close relationships.

Implicit theories of relationships and self-expansion: Implications for relationship functioning

Individuals hold implicit beliefs about the nature of romantic relationships. Growth beliefs are characterized by thoughts that romantic relationships can be cultivated over time, whereas destiny beliefs are characterized by thoughts that relationships are either meant to be or not. In the current research, we propose that individuals who hold strong growth beliefs (but not destiny beliefs) should be more likely to experience self-expansion, as these individuals are oriented toward relationship cultivation. In turn, this increase in self-expansion should promote greater relationship quality and maintenance. Across three studies (two cross-sectional and one longitudinal) that sampled from varying populations and relationship types, we found evidence that self-expansion mediates the association between growth beliefs (but not destiny beliefs) and satisfaction, commitment, accommodation, and dissolution consideration. These data provide insights into the mechanisms by which implicit theories influence relationship functioning and establish implicit theories as an individual-level antecedent to the self-expansion experience.

Self-determination theory and intimate partner violence: An APIM model of need fulfillment and IPV.

Some of the most important outcomes of romantic relationships are those related to the mutual fulfillment of basic psychological needs (Deci & Ryan, 2014; Knee, Hadden, Porter, & Rodriguez, 2013). The present study tested an actor–partner interdependence model of self-determination theory’s mutual need fulfillment in couples as a predictor of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Couples (N = 78 dyads) completed measures of basic psychological need fulfillment, relationship satisfaction, and intimate partner violence perpetration. Results suggest that women’s need fulfillment matters more in predicting men’s IPV perpetration, whereas men’s need fulfillment does not significantly predict women’s IPV perpetration. In other words, women’s need fulfillment acts as a protective factor against men’s IPV perpetration.