Mutual Cyclical Anger in Romantic Relationships: Moderation by Agreeableness and Commitment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mutual Cyclical Anger in Romantic Relationships: Moderation by Agreeableness and Commitment

AU - Liu, Jie

AU - Lemay, Edward

AU - Neal, Angela

PY - 2018/12/1

Y1 - 2018/12/1

N2 - The current study used a dyadic daily diary design to examine the transmission of anger over daily interactions within romantic relationships. The results suggested that, when people feel angry in their relationships, they are more likely to engage in destructive behaviors toward their partners. In turn, the enactment of destructive behaviors tends to be perceived by their partners, which elicits partners’ anger. Hence, these findings suggest that anger can promote a negative interpersonal process in which anger spreads across partners and reinforces itself. Effects were moderated by agreeableness, but not by relationship commitment.

AB - The current study used a dyadic daily diary design to examine the transmission of anger over daily interactions within romantic relationships. The results suggested that, when people feel angry in their relationships, they are more likely to engage in destructive behaviors toward their partners. In turn, the enactment of destructive behaviors tends to be perceived by their partners, which elicits partners’ anger. Hence, these findings suggest that anger can promote a negative interpersonal process in which anger spreads across partners and reinforces itself. Effects were moderated by agreeableness, but not by relationship commitment.

KW - Agreeableness

KW - Anger

KW - Commitment

KW - Destructive behavior

KW - Romantic relationships

U2 - 10.1016/j.jrp.2018.09.002

DO - 10.1016/j.jrp.2018.09.002

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0092-6566

VL - 77

SP - 1

EP - 10

JO - Journal of Research in Personality

JF - Journal of Research in Personality

ER -