Couples' shared participation in novel and arousing activities and experienced relationship quality.
Abstract
Using a newspaper questionnaire, a door-to-door survey, and 3 laboratory experiments, the authors examined a proposed effect of shared participation in novel and arousing activities on experienced relationship quality. The questionnaire and survey studies found predicted correlations of reported shared "exciting" activities and relationship satisfaction plus their predicted mediation by relationship boredom. In all 3 experiments, the authors found predicted greater increases in experienced relationship quality from before to after participating together in a 7-min novel and arousing (vs. a more mundane) task. Comparison with a no-activity control showed the effect was due to the novel-arousing task. The same effect was found on ratings of videotaped discussions before and after the experimental task. Finally, all results remained after controlling for relationship social desirability. Results bear on general issues of boredom and excitement in relationships and the role of such processes in understanding the typical early decline of relationship quality after the honeymoon period.
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From The Undoing Effect of Positive Emotions (2000) · cites this paper as Aron et al., 2000
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Compatibility, Leisure, and Satisfaction in Marital Relationships
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Rubin, H., & Campbell, L. (2011) · Social Psychological and Personality Science · doi:10.1177/1948550611416520 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Is Long-Term Love More Than A Rare Phenomenon? If So, What Are Its Correlates?
O’Leary, K. D., Acevedo, B. P., Aron, A. P., Huddy, L., & Mashek, D. J. (2011) · Social Psychological and Personality Science · doi:10.1177/1948550611417015 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Self-citationBrand love: the emotional bridge between experience and engagement, generation-M perspective
Junaid, M. R., Hou, F., Hussain, K., & Kirmani, A. A. (2019) · Journal of Product & Brand Management · doi:10.1108/jpbm-04-2018-1852 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Bartunek, J. M., Balogun, J., & Do, B. (2011) · Academy of Management Annals · doi:10.1080/19416520.2011.567109 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Measuring love in romantic relationships: A meta-analysis
Graham, J. M. (2010) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407510389126 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Kashdan, T. B., & Breen, W. E. (2007) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2007.02.003 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Coulter, K., & Malouff, J. M. (2013) · Couple and Family Psychology Research and Practice · doi:10.1037/a0031719 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Self-expansion and flow in couples' momentary experiences: An experience sampling study.
Graham, J. M. (2008) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.95.3.679 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
“Such research might be particularly fruitful when one considers the role of boredom in self-expansion (A. Aron et al., 2000) and the relation between boredom and affect (Vodanovich, Verner, & Gilbride, 1991).”
InfluentialSelf-expansion motivation and inclusion of others in self: An updated review
Aron, A. P., Lewandowski, G., Branand, B., Mashek, D. J., & Aron, E. N. (2022) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/02654075221110630 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
“, crawling together on a mat while transporting a foam cylinder with their heads and bodies) reported greater subsequent relationship satisfaction and passionate love from pretest to posttest compared to a merely pleasant activity (Aron et al., 2000).”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationShould Anthropomorphized Brands Engage Customers? The Impact of Social Crowding on Brand Preferences
Puzakova, M., & Kwak, H. (2017) · Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1509/jm.16.0211 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
“Similarly, Aron et al. (2000) argue that shared activities in which participantsmight engage together are likely to involve cooperation, thus facilitating a sense of affection and closeness.”
BackgroundCommunicating affection: interpersonal behavior and social context
(2007) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.44-3351 · Cited by 142 · see citing works
Miller (2010) · doi:10.1177/0956797609357733 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Muise, A., Harasymchuk, C., Day, L. C., Bacev-Giles, C., Gere, J., & Impett, E. A. (2018) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/pspi0000148 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
“Previous work has not demonstrated consistent gender differences in the associations between self-expansion and relationship satisfaction (see Aron et al., 2000), however, beyond Graham (2008), our studies are among the only studies to investigate daily associations with naturally occurring…”
InfluentialClark, M. S., & Lemay, E. P. (2010) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470561119.socpsy002025 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
The digital transformation of human identity
Nagy, P., & Köles, B. (2014) · Convergence The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies · doi:10.1177/1354856514531532 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
“In general, relational identification refers to the extent of one’s self-definition with a specific role (Sluss and Ashforth, 2007), usually involving self-expansion (Aron et al., 2000) and often self-enhancement (Aron and McLaughlin-Volpe, 2001).”
BackgroundThe power of one: benefits of individual self-expansion
Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. (2012) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2012.746999 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
“Activities that result in self-expansion have been traditionally defined as novel, exciting, challenging, and interesting (Aron & Aron, 1997; Aron, Mashek, et al., 2004; Aron et al., 2000), yet classic self-expansion research has examined activities (i.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialPlay Behavior and Playfulness in Adulthood
Vleet, M. V., & Feeney, B. C. (2015) · Social and Personality Psychology Compass · doi:10.1111/spc3.12205 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Self-Determination Theory and Romantic Relationship Processes
Knee, C. R., Hadden, B. W., Porter, B., & Rodriguez, L. M. (2013) · Personality and Social Psychology Review · doi:10.1177/1088868313498000 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Epistemic companions: shared reality development in close relationships
Rossignac‐Milon, M., & Higgins, E. T. (2018) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.01.001 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Experimental Existential Psychology: Coping With the Facts of Life
Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., Koole, S., & Solomon, S. (2010) · Handbook of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/9780470561119.socpsy001020 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Putting the “You” in “Thank You”
Algoe, S. B., Kurtz, L. E., & Hilaire, N. (2016) · Social Psychology and Personality Science · doi:10.1177/1948550616651681 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
When similars do not attract: Tests of a prediction from the self‐expansion model
Aron, A. P., STEELE, J. L., Kashdan, T. B., & Perez, M. (2006) · Personal Relationships · doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2006.00125.x · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Self-citationChua, R. Y. J. (2015) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1177/0149206315601183 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Does Variety Among Activities Increase Happiness
Etkin, J., & Mogilner, C. (2016) · Journal of Consumer Research · doi:10.1093/jcr/ucw021 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
“People are often exhorted to incorporate more variety into activities shared with their romantic partner in order to enjoy a more satisfying relationship (Aron et al. 2000; Bao and Lyubomirsky 2013).”
BackgroundPositive aging: New images for a new age
Gergen, M., & Gergen, K. J. (2001) · Ageing International · doi:10.1007/s12126-001-1013-6 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Self‐expansion as a mediator of relationship improvements in a mindfulness intervention
Carson, J. W., Carson, K. M., Gil, K. M., & Baucom, D. H. (2007) · Journal of Marital and Family Therapy · doi:10.1111/j.1752-0606.2007.00035.x · Cited by 108 · see citing works
“Such self-expanding experiences are distinguished in terms of two key dimensions, novelty and arousal, which in ordinary language are subsumed by the single term ‘‘exciting’’ (Aron et al., 2000).”
BackgroundAn Expanded Self is a More Capable Self: The Association between Self-concept Size and Self-efficacy
Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. (2012) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2012.718863 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
“Specifically, these results suggest that one way to bolster a client’s self-efficacy for tasks would be to have him or her experience self-expansion, potentially through self-expanding activities (e.g., Aron et al., 2000).”
Background“You make me a better/worse person”: A two‐dimensional model of relationship self‐change
Mattingly, B. A., Lewandowski, G., & McIntyre, K. P. (2014) · Personal Relationships · doi:10.1111/pere.12025 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Debrot, A., Meuwly, N., Muise, A., Impett, E. A., & Schoebi, D. (2017) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167216684124 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Putting laughter in context: Shared laughter as behavioral indicator of relationship well‐being
Kurtz, L. E., & Algoe, S. B. (2015) · Personal Relationships · doi:10.1111/pere.12095 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
“Moments of shared laughter may be another such feature of high quality relationships that makes people feel they have the resources necessary to explore and grow, both together and individually (also see Aron et al., 2000).”
BackgroundHow Can We Improve Preventive and Educational Interventions for Intimate Relationships?
Bradbury, T. N., & Lavner, J. A. (2011) · Behavior Therapy · doi:10.1016/j.beth.2011.02.008 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Kashdan, T. B., Sherman, R. A., Yarbro, J., & Funder, D. C. (2012) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2012.00796.x · Cited by 101 · see citing works
A Script Analysis of Relational Boredom: Causes, Feelings, and Coping Strategies
Harasymchuk, C., & Fehr, B. (2010) · Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1521/jscp.2010.29.9.988 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
“People were most likely to report coping with boredom with relationship-enhancing strategies aimed at increasing self-expansion through novel and stimulation (Aron et al., 2000).”
BackgroundLaughing and liking: Exploring the interpersonal effects of humor use in initial social interactions
Treger, S., Sprecher, S., & Erber, R. (2013) · European Journal of Social Psychology · doi:10.1002/ejsp.1962 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Behavioral Observation and Coding
Heyman, R. E., Lorber, M. F., Eddy, J. M., & West, T. V. (2014) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511996481.018 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Self-citation“Date nights” take two: The maintenance function of shared relationship activities
Girme, Y. U., Overall, N. C., & Faingataa, S. (2013) · Personal Relationships · doi:10.1111/pere.12020 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
When People Serve as Means to Goals
Orehek, E., & Forest, A. L. (2016) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0963721415623536 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
MacDonald, G., Locke, K. D., Spielmann, S. S., & Joel, S. (2012) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407512465221 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
“Of course, a body of research has centered on relationship rewards, such as closeness and intimacy (e.g., Aron et al., 2000), but there are very few studies that examine the simultaneous operation of threats and rewards in romantic relationship contexts (e.g., Lewandowski & Ackerman, 2006;…”
BackgroundBecoming a sexual being: The “elephant in the room” of adolescent brain development
Suleiman, A. B., Galván, A., Harden, K. P., & Dahl, R. E. (2017) · Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2016.09.004 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
“Once this partner-specific response has been established, engaging in arousing, novel activities creates enhanced experiences of relationship satisfaction among couples (Aron et al., 2000).”
Cognitive emotion regulation and positive dyadic outcomes in married couples
Rusu, P., Bodenmann, G., & Kayser, K. (2019) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407517751664 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
The reliability of romantic love: A reliability generalization meta‐analysis
Graham, J. M., & CHRISTIANSEN, K. (2009) · Personal Relationships · doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.2009.01209.x · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Satisfaction and Happiness – The Bright Side of Quality of Life
Tay, L., Kuykendall, L. E., & Diener, E. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-94-017-9178-6_39 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Beyond Satisfaction: The Role of Attachment in Marital Functioning
Selçuk, E., Vivian Zayas, A., & Hazan, C. (2010) · Journal of Family Theory & Review · doi:10.1111/j.1756-2589.2010.00061.x · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Kohut, T., Balzarini, R. N., Fisher, W. A., & Campbell, L. (2018) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407517743096 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
The Affective Structure of Marriage
Caughlin, J. P., & Huston, T. L. (2006) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511606632.009 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Kashdan, T. B., DeWall, C. N., Pond, R. S., Silvia, P. J., Lambert, N. M., Fincham, F. D., Farmer, A. S., & Keller, P. S. (2012) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2012.00783.x · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Vleet, M. V., & Feeney, B. C. (2015) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691615596789 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Kashdan, T. B., McKnight, P. E., Fincham, F. D., & Rose, P. (2010) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00697.x · Cited by 79 · see citing works
“That is, dispositional curiosity might facilitate the self-expansion process in relationship beginnings and the maintenance of passionate excitement in long-term relationships (Aron et al., 2000; Carson, Carson, Gil, & Baucom, 2007; Graham, 2008).”
Knowing Who You Are and Adding to It
Emery, L. F., Walsh, C., & Slotter, E. B. (2014) · Social Psychological and Personality Science · doi:10.1177/1948550614555029 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
“These changes often benefit well-being (Aron et al., 1995, 2000; Mattingly & Lewandowski, 2013b).”
BackgroundTsapelas, I., Fisher, H. E., & Aron, A. P. (2010) · doi:10.4324/9780203874370-12 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Self-citationDoes Consumer Well‐Being Affect Hedonic Consumption?
Zhong, J. Y., & Mitchell, V. (2012) · Psychology and Marketing · doi:10.1002/mar.20545 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
“Joy might also prompt consumers to be active in social groups and social activities, which in turn improves their long-lasting social connections and social-affective skills (Aron et al., 2000; Boulton & Smith, 1992; Ellsworth & Smith, 1988; Frijda, 1986).”
Background
- Authors
- Aron, A., Norman, C. C., Aron, E. N., McKenna, C., & Heyman, R. E.
- Affiliations
- Stony Brook University (US)
- Kaiser Permanente (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 2000
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 273-284
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2076102104
- Cited by
- 681
- References
- 56
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 43 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 137 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 22
- FWCI
- 8.09
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Keywords
- couples, relationship quality, relationship satisfaction, shared activities, romantic relationships, honeymoon period, relationship decline, social desirability
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Arousal, Boredom, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Behavior, Spouses
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