And if to be afraid of breaking could rush it? Researchers from the Université Vie-Santé Saint-Raphaël in Italy have tried to answer this question. The results of their study appeared in the journal Motivation and Emotion and complement current knowledge about the obstacles to a romantic relationship.
104 volunteers provided information about themselves as well as the state and dynamism of their couple. The researchers then manipulated participants’ perceptions of how their relationships might end. They provided statistics on the breakup rates of couples and gave false information on the risks of being left or, conversely, on the chances that their love story lasts a long time. Participants were then asked to judge how committed they were to their relationships and how they felt about their partner.
Believe it to see it
Attachment and the desire for commitment decreased when they heard that there could be a high risk of a breakup in their relationship. Conversely, when the possibility of their relationship ending was not addressed, participants’ feelings and levels of commitment were more intense. This last aspect was even stronger when they “knew” that the risks of a breakup in their relationship were low.
Faced with a “too high” risk of ending the relationship, the participants clearly reduced the intensity of their positive feelings towards their partner. This decrease in commitment can lead to considering a real break in the relationship. For the authors, it is important that psychologists understand this mechanics, because the abandonment of a relationship can play a crucial role in the appearance of the Depression.
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