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We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
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Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task
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Delay Discounting Within Couple Relationships: An Initial Exploration.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Delay discounting, valuing immediate rewards over delayed ones, is linked to relationship problems. Higher delay discounting correlates with attachment anxiety, conflict, and lower satisfaction in romantic relationships.

Keywords:
attachment anxietyattachment avoidanceconflictcouplesdelay discountingrelationships

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Behavioral Economics
  • Relationship Science

Background:

  • Delay discounting, the preference for immediate over delayed rewards, is well-researched in behavioral analysis for individual behaviors.
  • Its application to romantic relationships remains largely unexplored.
  • This study bridges this gap by investigating delay discounting within relationship contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between delay discounting and key relationship variables.
  • To explore the role of delay discounting in adult romantic relationships.
  • To introduce delay discounting as a relevant concept for relationship research and therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Survey data collected from 368 participants in adult romantic relationships.
  • Analysis of the correlation between delay discounting tendencies and relationship outcomes.
  • Utilized established measures for delay discounting, attachment anxiety, couple conflict, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

  • A significant positive correlation was found between higher delay discounting and attachment anxiety.
  • Increased delay discounting was associated with higher levels of disruptive couple conflict.
  • Participants with a greater tendency to discount delayed rewards reported lower couple satisfaction.

Conclusions:

  • Delay discounting is a significant factor influencing adult romantic relationship dynamics.
  • The findings suggest potential applications for understanding and addressing relationship difficulties.
  • This research advocates for the integration of delay discounting into systemic family therapy and relationship research.