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Willingness to express emotion depends upon perceiving partner care.
Katherine R Von Culin1, Jennifer L Hirsch1, Margaret S Clark1
1a Yale University , New Haven , CT , USA.
Cognition & Emotion
|June 2, 2017
Summary
People share vulnerable emotions more readily with partners they believe are communally responsive. Perceived communal strength directly predicts willingness to express emotions, fostering deeper relationship intimacy.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
- Emotional Expression
Background:
- Emotional vulnerability is crucial for relationship development.
- Perceptions of partner responsiveness influence self-disclosure.
- Communal strength is a key indicator of relational investment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between perceived communal strength and willingness to express emotions.
- To examine how communal responsiveness impacts emotional vulnerability in relationships.
- To understand the role of perceived partner support in emotional disclosure.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving participants rating communal strength and emotional expression willingness.
- Study 1 assessed perceptions of communal strength from various partners.
- Study 2 involved romantic couples independently reporting communal strength and emotional expression.
Main Results:
- Higher perceived communal strength was associated with greater willingness to express emotions.
- Perceptions of a partner's communal strength significantly predicted emotional disclosure.
- The relationship between felt and perceived communal strength was mediated by accuracy and projection.
Conclusions:
- Perceived communal responsiveness is a significant predictor of emotional vulnerability in relationships.
- Fostering a sense of communal strength enhances partners' willingness to share deeper emotions.
- Understanding these dynamics can improve relationship satisfaction and intimacy.
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