Optimizing Assurance The Risk Regulation System in Relationships

• Published in: Psychological bulletin Vol. 132; no. 5; pp. 641 - 666
• Main Authors: Murray, Sandra L, Holmes, John G, Collins, Nancy L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01-09-2006
• Subjects: Adult; Affect - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cognition - physiology; Cognitive Structures; Contingency Management; Dating (Social); Dependency (Psychology); Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Humans; Interpersonal Attraction; Interpersonal Interaction; Interpersonal Relations; Interpersonal Relationship; Interpersonal Relationships; Intimacy; Male; Models, Psychological; Pain; Personal relationships; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Rejection (Psychology); Risk; Risk Management; Risk Reduction Behavior; Sexual Partners - psychology; Social Acceptance; Social Behavior; Social interaction; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Social relations; Well Being; relationships; risk; rejection; perceived regard; belongingness; Human; Regulation(control); Social interaction; Romantic love; Risk; Review; Interpersonal relation
• ISSN: 0033-2909; 1939-1455
• DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.132.5.641

A model of risk regulation is proposed to explain how people balance the goal of seeking closeness to a romantic partner against the opposing goal of minimizing the likelihood and pain of rejection. The central premise is that confidence in a partner's positive regard and caring allows people to risk seeking dependence and connectedness. The risk regulation system consists of 3 interconnected "if-then" contingency rules, 1 cognitive, 1 affective, and 1 behavioral. The authors describe how general perceptions of a partner's regard structure the sensitivity of these 3 "if-then" rules in risky relationship situations. The authors then describe the consequences of such situated "if-then" rules for relationship well-being and conclude by integrating other theoretical perspectives and outlining future research directions.