Approach motivation and the expansion of self in close relationships

Abstract

The self‐expansion model posits that individuals are fundamentally motivated to expand their sense of self. It is proposed that approach—but not avoidance—motivation underlies self‐expansion and that approach‐motivated individuals should be especially interested in self‐expanding with a person who provides many novel resources, identities, and perspectives. In Studies 1, 2a, and 2b, correlational evidence that self‐expansion is associated with both relationship‐specific and global measures of approach motivation, but is unrelated to avoidance motivation, was found. In Study 3, experimental evidence that approach motivation increases sensitivity to self‐expansion opportunities, such that individuals high in approach motivation are especially attracted to targets who offer many expansion opportunities and unattracted to targets who offer few expansion opportunities was found. Taken together, these studies provide evidence that self‐expansion is rooted in approach motivation.

Self-Expansion through Fictional Characters

“…In their model of self-expansion, Aron and colleagues (e.g., Aron & Aron, 1997;Aron, Aron, & Norman, 2001) asserted that people want to accrue physical and social resources that enhance pursuit of their goals, and one means of collecting such resources is through relationships with other people. Accordingly, the opportunity to self-expand through a potential relationship, and thus accumulate resources via another person, motivates initial attraction and formation of the relationship, particularly when the other person somehow provides a novel, interesting, or challenging experience (Mattingly, McIntyre, & Lewandowski, 2012). In turn, the experience of self-expansion in an established relationship motivates continued maintenance and development of the relationship (Lewandowski & Aron, 2004;Lewandowski, Aron, Bassis, & Kunak, 2006).…”

“…People seek relationship partners that provide them with a sense of novelty and growth (Aron & Aron, 1997;Mattingly et al, 2012). In particular, relationships can assist us in reducing the discrepancy between what Higgins (1987) termed the ideal self (i.e., who one wants to be) and the actual self.…”

Passion for life

“…However, these studies provide no data on the natural course of self-expansion that would indicate whether self-expansion and passionate love follow a common trajectory over the life of a relationship. It may be that selfexpansion only correlates with passionate love in late adolescence/early adulthood when both the search for a romantic partner and the construction of an adult identity are salient psychological tasks (McAdams, 2001) or when people are particularly motivated to seek novel experiences for self-or relationship improvement (Mattingly, McIntyre, & Lewandowski, 2012).…”

Zastosowanie skali poczucia rozszerzenia Ja w miejscu pracy w warunkach polskich

“…Nakładanie się konstruktów Ja i partnera wią-zało się także z postrzeganą siłą relacji oraz poczuciem podobieństwa w relacji (Zbieg, Sło-wińska, Żak, 2015). Badania z użyciem SEQ wykazały m.in., że rozszerzenie Ja związane jest z motywacją do angażowania się w nowe aktywności (approach motivation) (Mattingly, McIntyre, Lewandowski, 2012).…”