Women's Relational Orientation and Relationship Formation

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Date

2014-10-14

Authors

Do Couto, Lisa

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Volume Title

Publisher

University of Guelph

Abstract

Recent research suggests that women’s relational orientation is a multidimensional construct with both adaptive and maladaptive facets (Hennig, 2012). Historically, researchers have emphasised the negative outcomes of women’s relational orientation, limiting knowledge on positive outcomes. The purpose of the current study is to examine positive outcomes of women’s relational orientation, in particular social competence and relational satisfaction. In a university setting, previously unacquainted female participants completed a dyadic interaction task and were then asked to evaluate the quality of the interaction. The results reveal distinct patterns of interactions related to the various facets of women’s relational orientation. This study will increase the current understanding of the adaptive and maladaptive facets of women’s relational orientation and its effects on relationship formation.

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Keywords

Relational Orientation, Mitigation Theory, Social Competence, Self-Disclosure, Responsiveness, Relationship Formation, Relationship Satisfaction

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