Can You Get the Magic Back? The Moderating Effect of Passion Decay Beliefs on Relationship Commitment

The present research introduces the construct of a decay theory of passion-a lay belief that romantic passion decline is irreversible-and investigates how this construct interacts with existing levels of passion for one's romantic partner to predict lower relationship commitment and greater pur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 2018-12, Vol.115 (6), p.1002-1033
Main Authors: Carswell, Kathleen L., Finkel, Eli J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alternatives
Commitment
Cross-Sectional Studies
Emotions
Female
Human
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Interpersonal Relationships
Male
Meta-analysis
Moderation
Passion
Personal Satisfaction
Relationship Quality
Relationship Satisfaction
Romance
Sexual Partners - psychology
Test Construction
Theories
Young Adult
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Summary:The present research introduces the construct of a decay theory of passion-a lay belief that romantic passion decline is irreversible-and investigates how this construct interacts with existing levels of passion for one's romantic partner to predict lower relationship commitment and greater pursuit of romantic alternatives. Across three studies employing experimental and nonexperimental procedures-and a set of meta-analytic syntheses including additional studies-results generally supported the hypotheses that, although low passion is linked to lower commitment and greater pursuit of romantic alternatives, such effects are stronger when adherence to decay beliefs is high rather than low. These effects tended to be independent of effects of destiny and growth theories (Knee, 1998), a related set of lay theories in the domain of relationships. Mediated moderation analyses revealed that the moderating effect of decay theories on relationship commitment mediates the moderating effect of decay theories on the link between low passion and the pursuit of romantic alternatives. Discussion addresses the possibility that changing one's beliefs surrounding the nature of romantic passion may be an important, but previously overlooked, means for preventing one from prematurely abandoning an otherwise satisfying relationship.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/pspi0000147