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Willingness to sacrifice in close relationships
P A Van Lange1, C E Rusbult, S M Drigotas
1Department of Social Psychology, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Willingness to sacrifice in relationships is linked to commitment, satisfaction, and investments. This sacrifice also predicts better couple functioning and adjustment, highlighting its importance in relationship science.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
- Interdependence Theory
Background:
- Understanding factors influencing relationship maintenance is crucial.
- Willingness to sacrifice is a key construct in relationship interdependence.
- Previous research has explored sacrifice but lacked a comprehensive interdependence analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze willingness to sacrifice through an interdependence lens.
- To test model predictions across diverse study designs.
- To examine the relationship between willingness to sacrifice and couple functioning.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 6 studies: 3 cross-sectional surveys, 1 simulation, 2 longitudinal.
- Utilized novel self-report and behavioral measures of willingness to sacrifice.
- Assessed commitment, satisfaction, alternatives, investments, dyadic adjustment, and couple persistence.
Main Results:
- Willingness to sacrifice correlated with commitment, satisfaction, investments, and perceived alternatives.
- Commitment significantly mediated the link between these variables and willingness to sacrifice.
- Willingness to sacrifice predicted higher dyadic adjustment and couple persistence, accounting for variance beyond commitment.
Conclusions:
- Willingness to sacrifice is a vital component of relationship interdependence.
- Commitment plays a central mediating role in willingness to sacrifice.
- Willingness to sacrifice contributes to superior couple functioning and adjustment.
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