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Cited by 202Attachment and Relationship DynamicsMotivation and Self-Concept in SportsPsychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction

Moving toward more perfect unions: Daily and long-term consequences of approach and avoidance goals in romantic relationships.

Impett, Emily A., Gordon, Amie M., Kogan, Aleksandr, Oveis, Christopher, Gable, Shelly L., Keltner, Dacher·2010·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/a0020271
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Abstract

In 2 daily experience studies and a laboratory study, the authors test predictions from approach-avoidance motivational theory to understand how dating couples can maintain feelings of relationship satisfaction in their daily lives and over the course of time. Approach goals were associated with increased relationship satisfaction on a daily basis and over time, particularly when both partners were high in approach goals. Avoidance goals were associated with decreases in relationship satisfaction over time, and people were particularly dissatisfied when they were involved with a partner with high avoidance goals. People high in approach goals and their partners were rated as relatively more satisfied and responsive to a partner's needs by outside observers in the lab, whereas people with high avoidance goals and their partners were rated as less satisfied and responsive. Positive emotions mediated the link between approach goals and daily satisfaction in both studies, and responsiveness to the partner's needs was an additional behavioral mechanism in Study 2. Implications of these findings for approach-avoidance motivational theory and for the maintenance of satisfying relationships over time are discussed.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0020271

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  • Excessive negative affect can lead to lower participation in social activities, diminished engagement in social relationships, and poorer interpersonal outcomes.

    “Excessive negative affect—produced by over-activation of the negative valence (avoidance/aversive) system (Elliot, 2006; Gray, 1987; Lang, 1995)—can lead to lower participation in social activities, diminished engagement in social relationships, and ultimately poorer interpersonal outcomes (e.g., loneliness, diminished relationship satisfaction; Gable & Berkman, 2008; Impett et al., 2010; Trew, 20”

    From Enhancing social connectedness in anxiety and depression through amplification of positivity: Preliminary treatment outcomes and process of change (2020) · cites this paper as Impett et al., 2010

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Authors
Impett, E. A., Gordon, A. M., Kogan, A., Oveis, C., Gable, S. L., & Keltner, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Toronto (CA)
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • University of Hong Kong (HK)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2010-12
Volume
99
Issue
6
Pages
948-963
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/a0020271
OpenAlex
W2143664620
Cited by
202
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 13
FWCI
16.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Metanexus Institute on Religion, Science and the Humanities
  • National Science Foundation (BCS-0753597)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Keywords
approach goals, avoidance goals, romantic relationships, relationship satisfaction, dating couples, everyday life, positive emotions
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Courtship, Emotions, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, Personal Satisfaction, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Multivariate Analysis, Spouses

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