Abstract
When individuals are highly committed to their romantic relationship, they are more likely to engage in pro-relationship maintenance mechanisms. The present research expanded on the notion that commitment redirects self-oriented goals to consider broader relational goals and examined whether commitment interacts with a promotion and prevention focus to activate derogation of attractive alternatives. Three studies used cross-sectional and experimental approaches. Study 1 showed that romantically involved individuals predominantly focused on promotion, but not prevention, reported less initial attraction to an attractive target than single individuals, especially when highly committed to their relationship. Study 2 showed that romantically involved individuals induced in a promotion focus, compared to those in prevention focus, reported less initial attraction, but only when more committed to their relationship. Regardless of regulatory focus manipulation, more committed individuals were also less likely to perceive quality among alternative scenarios and to be attentive to alternative others in general. Finally, Study 3 showed that romantically involved individuals induced in promotion focus and primed with high commitment reported less initial attraction, than those primed with low commitment, or than those induced in prevention focus. Once again, for these latter no differences occurred according to commitment prime. Together, the findings suggest that highly committed promotion focused individuals consider broader relationship goals and activate relationship maintenance behaviors such as derogation of attractive alternatives to promote their relationship.
Highlights
Why are some individuals in romantic relationships better at promoting relationship growth by warding off potential partners, whereas others find it more difficult abstaining from actively pursuing other relational interests? Maintaining a romantic relationship is not an easy task
In a cross-sectional study, we examined the association between regulatory focus and initial attraction to an attractive alternative target for individuals who were either single or in a relationship
We computed a Regulatory Focus Index (RFI) by subtracting prevention scores from promotion scores, such that higher scores reflect a predominant focus on promotion
Summary
Why are some individuals in romantic relationships better at promoting relationship growth by warding off potential partners, whereas others find it more difficult abstaining from actively pursuing other relational interests? Maintaining a romantic relationship is not an easy task. Regulatory focus and commitment associated with motivations to attain positive outcomes (e.g., gaining potential partners or being in a healthy relationship), whereas prevention is associated with avoiding negative outcomes (e.g., losing a partner or experiencing conflicts). In particular, directs individuals to actively pursue desired goals, but for romantically involved individuals, desired goals may present a dilemma of choosing between pursuing self-oriented goals (e.g., seeking other romantic opportunities) or relational goals (e.g., enhancing relational well-being). This suggests that additional factors may be involved in facilitating promotion oriented individuals to pursue the pro-relationship goals
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