Consistency of Themes Across Interpersonal Relationships

Abstract

The present study examined the extent to which individuals' central relationship patterns, specifically their desires or wishes, their perceptions of others' responses to them, and their own responses to both of these, vary across different types of significant others in a non-patient sample. Fifty undergraduates (21 females, 29 males with a mean age of 21 years) were asked to complete a measure of central relationship patterns separately for their mothers, fathers, same-sex friends, and romantic partners. Analyses suggested that participants made differentiations among significant others, particularly romantic partner, and at the same time, provided considerable consistency in their central relationship patterns across different types of significant others. Contrary to expectations, greater consistency across the four relationships was related to fewer interpersonal difficulties.