Truth and Wishful Thinking: How Interindividual Differences in Communal Motives Manifest in Momentary Partner Perceptions

Sebastian Pusch,Caroline Zygar–Hoffmann,Felix D Schönbrodt,Birk Hagemeyer

doi:10.1002/per.2227

Sebastian Pusch, Caroline Zygar–Hoffmann + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2227

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Abstract

Although rooted in reality, partner perceptions often reflect wishful thinking due to perceivers’ needs. Dispositional needs, or motives, can differ between persons; however, little is known about their differential associations with everyday partner perception. The present study used data from a 4–week experience sampling study ( N = up to 60942 surveys from 510 individuals nested in 259 couples) to examine the effects of perceivers’ partner–related implicit and explicit communal motives on the perception of (i) global communal partner behaviour and (ii) specific communal and uncommunal partner behaviours. The results of truth and bias models of judgement and quasi–signal detection analyses indicate that strong implicit communal approach motives and strong explicit communal motives are associated with the tendency to overestimate the partner's communal behaviour. Additionally, strong implicit communal approach motives were associated with the tendency to avoid perceptions of uncommunal partner behaviour. Neither implicit nor explicit communal motives had an effect on accuracy in the perception of particularly communal partner behaviour. The results highlight the relevance of both implicit and explicit communal motives for momentary partner perceptions and emphasise the benefits of dyadic microlongitudinal designs for a better understanding of the mechanisms through which individual differences manifest in couples’ everyday lives. © 2019 The Authors. European Journal of Personality published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Association of Personality Psychology

Highlights

From the very beginning of a romantic relationship, people seek to understand why their partner behaves the way he/she does
The present study investigated how interindividual differences in implicit and explicit communal motives manifest in everyday partner perceptions
Interindividual differences in global communal behaviour were strongly correlated with interindividual differences in the perception of global communal partner behaviour

Summary

Introduction

From the very beginning of a romantic relationship, people seek to understand why their partner behaves the way he/she does. Using data from an intensive dyadic experience sampling study, the present investigation examined whether perceivers’ communal motives moderate accuracy and bias in the perception of (i) global communal partner behaviour and (ii) specific communal and uncommunal partner behaviours This in-depth investigation should advance knowledge on partner perception and help to better understand how individual differences in communal motives manifest in people’s everyday lives. In this regard, the present research takes up recent calls in personality psychology to focus on the cognitive, affective, and behavioural processes that characterise individual differences in personality dispositions (Back & Vazire, 2015; Baumert et al, 2017; Fleeson & Jayawickreme, 2015). After defining implicit and explicit communal motives, we elaborate on their perceptual functions and how they may guide partner perceptions

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