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Romantic relationship status biases the processing of an attractive alternative's behavior

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 05:45 authored by Mariko VissermanMariko Visserman, Johan C Karremans
The present research examines whether romantically involved individuals process behavioral information of attractive alternatives in a biased manner. When presented with behavioral information of an attractive mate, in Study 1 involved (vs. uninvolved) participants tended to recall fewer positive behaviors of an attractive alternative. Study 2 demonstrated that involved participants recalled more negative behaviors, and also evaluated these behaviors more negatively, compared to uninvolved participants. Study 3 demonstrated that romantically involved participants recalled more negative (but also neutral) behaviors when it concerned behaviors displayed by an attractive alternative as compared to a same-sex other. These findings provide initial evidence for biased processing of behavioral information of an alternative mate, which may serve an important relationship protection function.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Personal Relationships

ISSN

1350-4126

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

2

Volume

21

Page range

324-334

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2023-01-03

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