Abstract
Motives for security (prevention focus) and advancement (promotion focus) influence goal pursuit, but less is known about how such motives operate in the relationship domain. Regulatory focus in relationships (RFR) is a dispositional trait specific to relationship motives, whereby relationship promotion facilitates effective conflict resolution strategies, and relationship prevention leads to conflict avoidance. This research sought to examine if RFR operates in conjunction with commitment, a relationship motive, to facilitate outcomes during relationship conflict. A correlational survey of 701 romantically involved heterosexuals in Portugal and Croatia revealed an interaction between RFR and commitment on conflict resolution strategies. Results showed that relationship promotion (vs. prevention) was associated with more constructive resolution strategies (e.g., constructive accommodation, greater mutual negotiation and less mutual blame), but this effect was greater for highly (vs. less) committed individuals. High commitment also facilitated individuals predominantly focused on relationship prevention to engage in more mutual expression of feelings and negotiation. No interaction emerged for destructive accommodation. These patterns were similar across the two countries. Findings suggest the need to consider the interplay of RFR and commitment on different relationship outcomes.
Highlights
Regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997) postulates that people can be motivated by desire for advancement and growth when pursuing a goal or by security and safety concerns
As part of a larger research project about romantic relationships in Portugal and Croatia, we present findings from a cross-sectional study that examined the role of regulatory focus in relationships (RFR) and commitment on accommodation and communication strategies during conflict. 1.1 Regulatory Focus and Relationship Outcomes
Given that European countries like Italy have a similar percentage of predominantly promotion focused individuals as the USA (Higgins, 2008), we aimed to extend the RFR construct to two European countries, Portugal and Croatia, in order to be able to generalize to different countries
Summary
Regulatory focus theory (Higgins, 1997) postulates that people can be motivated by desire for advancement and growth when pursuing a goal (promotion focus) or by security and safety concerns (prevention focus). Winterheld and Simpson (2011, 2016) proposed the regulatory focus in relationships (RFR) construct to capture differences in motivations for growth vs stability in romantic relationships. Research on interpersonal relationships has shown that regulatory focus plays a role in relationship outcomes, with promotion focus especially important for early relationship development and growth (Molden & Winterheld, 2013) and support for prevention-focused goals important for established marital relationships (Molden, Lucas, Finkel, Kumashiro, & Rusbult, 2009). They found some differences in pro-relationship motives and behaviors between relationship promotion and prevention, more research is needed to uncover how RFR affects relational processes. As part of a larger research project about romantic relationships in Portugal and Croatia, we present findings from a cross-sectional study that examined the role of RFR and commitment on accommodation and communication strategies during conflict. 1.1 Regulatory Focus and Relationship Outcomes
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