2024/07/23 by James Aloni, Gery C. Karantzas, Emma M. Marshall +1 · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Attachment and Relationship Dynamics #Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior #Marriage and Sexual Relationships
paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/02654075241262535
openalex publication_date 2024/07/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
In this paper, we investigate the association between evaluating a romantic partner as deviating from relationship ideals (i.e., ideal-partner discrepancy) and a widely studied form of self-regulatory behavior in romantic relationships—accommodation (i.e., inhibiting one’s own destructive relationship behaviors and enacting constructive behaviors). We also consider the moderating role of relationship commitment. Two studies tested these associations using self-reports (Study 1, N = 450 individuals) and by observing accommodation behaviors in couples (Study 2, N = 116 dyads). Across both studies, a negative-ideal partner discrepancy (i.e., a partner is deemed as falling below ideals) was associated with more accommodation when relationship commitment was high than for when it was low. The findings provide novel insights into understanding accommodation behavior in romantic relationships.