Date of Award
2024-08-01
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
Advisor(s)
Michael A. Zárate
Abstract
This investigation tested how inclusion-of-other-in-the-self (IOS) – the experience of closeness as overlapping selves – increases maladaptive biases toward romantic partners and their behaviors. Study 1 tested how the level of IOS is associated with disregarding signs that indicate that a romantic partner might be unhealthy for one’s emotional and physical well-being. Participants who were single (N = 77) reviewed four online dating profiles. Each profile was created to elicit high or low IOS and reveal a transgression committed by the potential romantic partner. Then, participants evaluated the potential romantic partner in suitability and the transgression on negativity. Study 2 conceptually replicated Study 1 and extended these findings by testing how the level of IOS is associated with sharing guilt for the transgressions committed by one’s romantic partner. Participants in romantic relationships (N = 112) recalled the most recent transgression committed by their romantic partner. Then, participants evaluated their romantic partner in suitability, evaluated the transgression on negativity, and rated the extent to which they shared guilt for the transgression committed by their romantic partner. In both studies, self-complexity was tested as a protective factor, and anxious attachment was tested as a risk factor. Both studies confirmed that higher IOS influenced the evaluation of romantic partners to be more positive. However, there was mixed support that IOS influences the evaluations of transgressions committed by romantic partners to be less negative, and no support that it influences the experience of shared guilt for the transgressions committed by romantic partners. Lastly, self-complexity and anxious attachment did not moderate the association between IOS and these biases, indicating no protective or risk effects. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Language
en
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Copyright Date
2024-08-01
File Size
131 p.
File Format
application/pdf
Rights Holder
Jacqueline Lechuga
Recommended Citation
Lechuga, Jacqueline, "Don't Get Too Close, It Hurts: Inclusion-of-Other-in-the-Self and Biased Evaluations of Romantic Partners and Their Behaviors" (2024). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 4187.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/open_etd/4187