Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity01:28

Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity

510
Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...
510
Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model01:29

Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model

417
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...
417
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification03:00

Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification

4.7K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
4.7K
Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification01:17

Strategies of Self-Presentation II: Self-Verification

270
Self-verification is a fundamental psychological drive wherein individuals seek affirmation of their self-concept from others, striving for consistency between their internal self-view and external perceptions. This drive operates even when the self-concept is negative, influencing interpersonal behavior and feedback preferences in complex and often counterintuitive ways. Unlike the self-enhancement motive, which seeks positive evaluations, self-verification prioritizes coherence and...
270
Social Relationships and Well-Being01:30

Social Relationships and Well-Being

511
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...
511
Close Relationships and Culture01:29

Close Relationships and Culture

376
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...
376

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Behavioural repertoires in moving crowds: an observational approach.

Royal Society open science·2025
Same author

Let's Talk About Condoms: Social Engagement in a Sexual Health Intervention Targeting Young Adults in Denmark.

International journal of sexual health : official journal of the World Association for Sexual Health·2024
Same author

Unraveling Image and Justice Concerns: A Social Identity Account on Appraisals and Emotional Drivers of High-Status Transgressor Group Members' Solidarity With Low-Status Groups.

Personality & social psychology bulletin·2024
Same author

How perceived polarization predicts attitude moralization (and vice versa): A four-wave longitudinal study during the 2020 U.S. election.

Journal of personality and social psychology·2024
Same author

The sound of silence: The importance of bystander support for confronters in the prevention of norm erosion.

The British journal of social psychology·2023
Same author

Feeling heard: Operationalizing a key concept for social relations.

PloS one·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

3.2K

"More than words": social validation in close relationships.

Namkje Koudenburg1, Ernestine H Gordijn2, Tom Postmes2

  • 1University of Groningen, The Netherlands N.Koudenburg@rug.nl.

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|September 11, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Disruptions in conversations can strengthen close relationships. Secure partners may feel more understood when flow disruptions occur, fostering validation.

Keywords:
close relationshipsconversational flowperceived relationship securityshared cognitionsocial validation

More Related Videos

The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
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

13.2K
Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
06:41

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors

Published on: February 25, 2011

95.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
07:40

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

3.2K
The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
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

13.2K
Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors
06:41

Assessment of Social Interaction Behaviors

Published on: February 25, 2011

95.8K

Area of Science:

  • Social Psychology
  • Communication Studies
  • Relationship Science

Background:

  • Conversational flow is crucial for social connection and validation, especially for unacquainted individuals.
  • Disruptions like hesitations or technical delays can negatively impact belonging and idea validation in new relationships.
  • The impact of conversational disruptions on established, close relationships remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the paradoxical effect of conversational flow disruptions in close relationships.
  • To test the hypothesis that disruptions can be beneficial in secure, close relationships.
  • To explore how relationship beliefs influence the interpretation of conversational disruptions.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted involving partners in various relationship types.
  • Participants experienced or observed disruptions in their conversational flow.
  • Data were collected on perceptions of mutual agreement, shared reality, and social validation.

Main Results:

  • Flow disruptions in close relationships were found to be paradoxically beneficial.
  • Secure relationship beliefs facilitated inferences of mutual agreement despite disruptions.
  • Disruptions enhanced feelings of social validation and accessibility of shared cognitions in close partners.

Conclusions:

  • Conversational flow disruptions can paradoxically strengthen close relationships.
  • Secure relationships buffer against the negative effects of disruptions, fostering deeper connection.
  • Relying on relationship beliefs allows partners to maintain validation even with communication interruptions.