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Recovering from conflict in romantic relationships: a developmental perspective
Jessica E Salvatore1, Sally I-Chun Kuo, Ryan D Steele
1Institute of Child Development, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. salv0041@umn.edu
Psychological Science
|January 20, 2011
Summary
Secure infant attachment predicts better conflict recovery in romantic relationships. A partner
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Early attachment security is a crucial developmental factor influencing adult romantic relationships.
- Understanding conflict recovery processes is vital for relationship stability and satisfaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the developmental trajectory of conflict recovery in romantic relationships.
- To investigate the association between early attachment security and adult conflict recovery.
- To explore the dyadic and prospective predictors of relationship stability.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 73 young adults and their romantic partners, with data collected from birth.
- Novel observational coding scheme to assess conflict recovery during a post-conflict "cool-down" task.
- Analysis of associations between early attachment, dyadic processes, and relationship outcomes.
Main Results:
- Secure infant attachment predicted better conflict recovery in young adults and their partners.
- Partner's conflict recovery positively correlated with relationship emotions and satisfaction.
- Early attachment security and partner recovery interacted to predict relationship stability over two years.
Conclusions:
- Early attachment security is a significant predictor of conflict recovery in romantic relationships.
- Partner's ability to recover from conflict plays a crucial role in relationship satisfaction and stability.
- Supportive partner conflict recovery can buffer the effects of insecure attachment histories on relationship longevity.
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