Chapter 18 - Emotion, attachment, and satisfaction in close relationships

Abstract

The most intense emotional reactions, at any stage of life, occur in the context of one's close affectional bonds, particularly if those bonds are at risk. This chapter discusses the theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of emotion in close relationships; and reviews the impact of the experience and the expression of emotion on relationship satisfaction. The chapter also discusses two studies examining the links between attachment style, emotion, and relationship satisfaction. Study 1 examines emotional expression (and emotional control), based on dating couples' self-reports of responses to particular negative emotions. Study 2 explores the experience of emotion during relationship conflict, using a variety of self-report and physiological measures. Results suggest that emotional expression is linked with attachment style, and that attachment style and emotional expression generally exert independent effects on couples' relationship satisfaction.