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Taking chances in the face of threat: romantic risk regulation and approach motivation

Justin V Cavallo1, Gráinne M Fitzsimons, John G Holmes

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. jvcavall@uwaterloo.ca

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|March 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

High self-esteem individuals become more approach-motivated and risk-taking after relationship threats, while low self-esteem individuals become more avoidant and conservative. This suggests broader motivational shifts influence risk regulation.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Self-esteem influences how individuals manage risks in romantic relationships.
  • Existing theories suggest motivation shifts are domain-specific.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if relationship risk regulation goals reflect global approach-avoidance motivation shifts.
  • To examine if these shifts impact risk-taking in nonsocial domains.

Main Methods:

  • Four studies were conducted, involving relationship threat manipulations.
  • Participants' approach motivation and decision-making in nonsocial risk tasks were assessed.
  • Distinctions were made between high self-esteem individuals (HSEs) and low self-esteem individuals (LSEs).

Main Results:

  • Relationship threats increased approach motivation for HSEs but decreased it for LSEs.
  • HSEs engaged in riskier nonsocial decision-making post-threat.
  • LSEs made more conservative nonsocial decisions following relationship threats.

Conclusions:

  • Romantic risk regulation is linked to a broader approach-avoidance system.
  • Global motivational shifts, not just domain-specific ones, drive risk regulation behaviors.

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