Unsupportive romantic partner behaviors increase neural reactivity to mistakes

• Published in: International journal of psychophysiology Vol. 170; pp. 12 - 19
• Main Authors: Palmwood, Erin N., Simons, Robert F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-12-2021
• Subjects: Electroencephalography; ERN; Error monitoring; Evoked Potentials; Humans; Romantic relationships; Error monitoring; ERN; Electroencephalography; Romantic relationships
• ISSN: 0167-8760; 1872-7697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.09.008

Romantic relationships involve a range of positive and negative experiences, from supportive and security-enhancing behaviors to unsupportive interactions involving criticism and dismissiveness. The present study aimed to examine the functional impact of these experiences on reactivity to mistakes, as error salience has key implications for adaptive functioning in areas such as goal-striving and appropriate risk-taking. To this end, a study was conducted in which participants completed the Eriksen Flanker Task (EFT) alone and under romantic partner observation while electrophysiological brain activity related to error salience (the error-related negativity (ERN)) was recorded. Findings indicated that unsupportive, but not supportive, partner behaviors were associated with changes in error salience, furthering the notion that negative relationship experiences have a stronger effect on functioning than do positive ones and highlighting the impact of relationship context on reactivity to mistakes.
•Examined impact of supportive and unsupportive romantic partner behaviors on error salience•Error salience was measured via error-related negativity (ERN) difference amplitudes.•Unsupportive partner behaviors were associated with increased ERNs.•Positive partner support was unrelated to ERN amplitudes.•Reactivity to mistakes is impacted by unsupportive behaviors in romantic relationships.