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Laypeople's conceptions of commitment
1Department of Psychology, University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. bfehr@uwinnipeg.ca
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|February 11, 1999
Summary
Laypeople view commitment to close relationships as central, with a fuzzy hierarchy of commitment types. A relational view of commitment positively impacts dating relationship perceptions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Understanding lay conceptions of commitment is crucial for relationship science.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the structure and content of these conceptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the content and structure of lay conceptions of commitment.
- To examine how these conceptions influence information processing and relationship perceptions.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 8 studies exploring laypeople's understanding of commitment.
- Utilized prototype analysis and examined hierarchical structures of commitment categories.
- Assessed the impact of relational versus nonrelational conceptions on dating relationship perceptions.
Main Results:
- Lay conceptions of commitment prioritize close relationships, with nonclose and noninterpersonal types deemed peripheral.
- Commitment categories exhibit a fuzzy, rather than strict, class-inclusion hierarchy.
- A relational conception of commitment correlated with more positive perceptions, thoughts, and feelings in dating relationships.
Conclusions:
- Lay conceptions of commitment are structured around relational closeness and organized as fuzzy hierarchies.
- Adopting a relational view of commitment fosters more positive relationship experiences.