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Related Concept Videos

Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects01:29

Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects

Self-discrepancy theory explains how people compare their actual self to their ideal and ought selves and how mismatches between these self-guides can lead to emotional distress. Developed by E. Tory Higgins, the theory distinguishes among three components of self-concept: the actual self, the ideal self, and the ought self. These refer respectively to how individuals perceive themselves, how they aspire to be, and how they believe they are obligated to be. Emotional well-being, self-esteem,...
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The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
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Close Relationships and Culture

Culture shapes how people approach attraction, choose partners, and build long-term relationships. While some preferences in mate selection appear consistent across cultures, such as men valuing physical attractiveness and women emphasizing financial resources, cultural contexts influence how these preferences are expressed and prioritized. Marriage extends beyond romantic ideals in many societies and is deeply embedded in social, economic, and religious frameworks.The Role of Culture in Mate...
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The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
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Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in adult relationships.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
07:57

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats

Published on: February 22, 2018

Relationship satisfaction instability and depression.

Sarah W Whitton1, Mark A Whisman

  • 1Psychology Department, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0376, USA. sarah.whitton@uc.edu

Journal of Family Psychology : JFP : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43)
|December 22, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Relationship satisfaction instability, or frequent fluctuations in how happy partners feel, is linked to higher depressive symptoms. This instability predicts depression beyond average satisfaction levels.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Relationship quality is strongly linked to depression.
  • The temporal dynamics of relationship satisfaction are less understood in relation to mental health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if temporal instability in relationship satisfaction predicts depressive symptoms.
  • To examine the bidirectional relationship between satisfaction instability and depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • 131 cohabiting and married women completed weekly assessments of relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms for 12 weeks.
  • Intraindividual standard deviations were used to quantify temporal instability.

Main Results:

  • Greater relationship satisfaction instability was associated with higher depressive symptoms, controlling for mean satisfaction.
  • Instability in relationship satisfaction predicted depressive symptoms independently of average satisfaction levels.
  • Instability in depressive symptoms did not predict relationship satisfaction.

Conclusions:

  • Temporal instability in relationship satisfaction is a significant predictor of depressive symptoms.
  • Relationship satisfaction instability may precede the onset of elevated depressive symptoms.
  • Assessing relationship satisfaction instability is valuable for understanding the link between marital quality and depression.