Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
11:13
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
Published on: November 19, 2015
Trust and responsiveness in strain-test situations: a dyadic perspective.
Sandra L Shallcross1, Jeffry A Simpson
1Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0344, USA. shal0012@umn.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|January 19, 2012
Summary
High trust in romantic relationships leads to more accommodating behavior and open communication during difficult discussions. Individuals with high trust also perceive accommodation more positively, showing adaptive responses to relationship challenges.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Trust is a fundamental component of romantic relationships.
- Understanding how chronic trust levels influence relationship dynamics during conflict is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how individuals with high versus low chronic trust perceive and behave during relationship strain-test discussions.
- To test predictions from trust models regarding partner interactions under conditions of relational demand.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral observation study involving 92 married/cohabitating couples.
- Couples discussed relationship strain-test issues where one partner requested a significant sacrifice from the other.
- Videotaped discussions were coded by trained raters to assess behaviors and perceptions.
Main Results:
- High trust responders exhibited more accommodation than low trust responders.
- High trust askers were more open and collaborative regarding the accommodation received.
- High trust askers tended to overestimate the accommodation they received.
- Both high trust askers and responders showed a 'correction effect,' adapting their trust and accommodation levels in response to discussion threat and sacrifice magnitude.
Conclusions:
- Chronic trust levels significantly shape interaction patterns during relationship strain.
- Mutual responsiveness processes, influenced by trust, are key to navigating relational challenges.
- Individuals with high trust demonstrate adaptive behavioral and perceptual adjustments in response to relationship demands.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Relationship Growth
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
01:08Obedience
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation, obedience...
01:26Equity Theory
Equity theory explains how our sense of fairness influences the dynamics of close relationships. Rooted in social psychology, the theory posits that individuals evaluate fairness by comparing the ratio of their contributions to the rewards they receive. Relationship satisfaction is highest when these ratios are perceived as balanced between partners, promoting mutual reciprocity and a sense of justice.Equity vs. Equality in RelationshipsEquity is distinct from equality. Fairness does not...
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
01:24Attachment Styles
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...