Perceiving Relationship Success Through a Motivational Lens: A Regulatory Focus Perspective

The current research examined the hypothesis that the relative importance of growth- and security-related relationship qualities in establishing successful relationships depends on the motivational orientation-regulatory focus (Higgins, 1997)-of the individual. Across four studies, we found that individuals in a promotion focus, whether chronic (Studies 1-2, 4) or temporarily induced (Study 2), prioritized the presence of relationship growth versus security in perceiving relationship success (Studies 1-2), rated their own relationship well-being higher when growth (but not security) qualities were present (Study 3), and experienced heightened relationship well-being when room for growth was manipulated to appear abundant versus limited (Study 4). In contrast, prevention-focused individuals did not place as much emphasis on growth relative to security (Studies 1 and 3) and, when forced to choose, preferred a relationship characterized by security versus growth (Study 2). These findings suggest the value of considering motivational orientations in understanding how relationship success is experienced.