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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
08:12
A Psychophysics Paradigm for the Collection and Analysis of Similarity Judgments
Published on: March 1, 2022
Explication of interspousal criticality bias
Kristina M Peterson1, David A Smith, Chaunce R Windle
1Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. kpeters1@nd.edu
Behaviour Research and Therapy
|March 17, 2009
Summary
This study defines criticality bias, a tendency to perceive spousal criticism. This bias predicts relationship behaviors beyond other factors, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Perceiving spousal criticism is linked to marital discord and dysphoria.
- The construct of criticality bias requires further elaboration and empirical investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explicate the criticality bias construct.
- To explore correlates and incremental validity of criticality bias relative to perceived criticism, marital attributions, and negative affect.
Main Methods:
- 118 couples completed self-report measures.
- Couples participated in a videotaped discussion task.
- Signal detection analyses were used to derive bias indices from spouse and observer ratings.
Main Results:
- Criticality bias demonstrated convergent and discriminant validity, similar to perceived criticism.
- Criticality bias offered incremental validity in predicting behavior beyond perceived criticism, marital attributions, and negative affect.
Conclusions:
- Criticality bias may represent a dysfunctional cognitive process in viewing marital events.
- Criticality bias could function as a stress generation mechanism within relationships.
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