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Accommodation Processes in Close Relationships: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Evidence

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rusbult, CE; Verette, J; Whitney, GA; Slovik, LF; Lipkus, I
Published in: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
January 1, 1991
Published version (DOI)

A theory of accommodation processes is advanced, and the results of 6 studies are reported. Accommodation refers to the willingness, when a partner has engaged in a potentially destructive act, to inhibit impulses to react destructively and instead react constructively. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that accommodation is lower under conditions of reduced social concern and lower interdependence. Studies 3, 4, and 5 revealed that accommodation is associated with greater satisfaction, commitment, investment size, centrality of relationship, psychological femininity, and partner perspective taking and with poorer quality alternatives. Commitment plays a fairly strong role in mediating willingness to accommodate. Study 6 showed that couple functioning is associated with greater joint and mutual tendencies to inhibit destructive reactions. Study 6 also demonstrated that self-reports of accommodation are related to relevant behavioral measures.

Duke Scholars

Isaac Marcelo Lipkus
Author Isaac Marcelo Lipkus School of Nursing

Published In

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

DOI

10.1037/0022-3514.60.1.53

ISSN

0022-3514

Publication Date

January 1, 1991

Volume

60

Issue

1

Start / End Page

53 / 78

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1505 Marketing
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Rusbult, C. E., Verette, J., Whitney, G. A., Slovik, L. F., & Lipkus, I. (1991). Accommodation Processes in Close Relationships: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(1), 53–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.60.1.53
Rusbult, C. E., J. Verette, G. A. Whitney, L. F. Slovik, and I. Lipkus. “Accommodation Processes in Close Relationships: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Evidence.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 60, no. 1 (January 1, 1991): 53–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.60.1.53.
Rusbult CE, Verette J, Whitney GA, Slovik LF, Lipkus I. Accommodation Processes in Close Relationships: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1991 Jan 1;60(1):53–78.
Rusbult, C. E., et al. “Accommodation Processes in Close Relationships: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Evidence.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 60, no. 1, Jan. 1991, pp. 53–78. Scopus, doi:10.1037/0022-3514.60.1.53.
Rusbult CE, Verette J, Whitney GA, Slovik LF, Lipkus I. Accommodation Processes in Close Relationships: Theory and Preliminary Empirical Evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1991 Jan 1;60(1):53–78.

Published In

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

DOI

10.1037/0022-3514.60.1.53

ISSN

0022-3514

Publication Date

January 1, 1991

Volume

60

Issue

1

Start / End Page

53 / 78

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 5205 Social and personality psychology
  • 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
  • 1505 Marketing