Associations of Collectivism with Relationship Commitment, Passion, and Mate Preferences: Opposing Roles of Parental Influence and Family Allocentrism

Abstract

In collectivist cultures, families tend to be characterized by respect for parental authority and strong, interdependent ties. Do these aspects of collectivism exert countervailing pressures on mate choices and relationship quality? In the present research, we found that collectivism was associated with greater acceptance of parental influence over mate choice, thereby driving relationship commitment down (Studies 1 and 2), but collectivism was also associated with stronger family ties (referred to as family allocentrism), which drove commitment up (Study 2). Along similar lines, Study 1 found that collectivists’ greater acceptance of parental influence on mate choice contributed to their reduced relationship passion, whereas Study 2 found that their greater family allocentrism may have enhanced their passion. Study 2 also revealed that collectivists may have reported a smaller discrepancy between their own preferences for mates high in warmth and trustworthiness and their perception of their parents’ preferences for these qualities because of their stronger family allocentrism. However, their higher tolerance of parental influence may have also contributed to a smaller discrepancy in their mate preferences versus their perceptions of their parents’ preferences for qualities signifying status and resources. Implications for the roles of collectivism, parental influence, and family allocentrism in relationship quality and mate selection will be discussed.

The Construct of Change in Close Relationships

“…In similar way young adults in Singapore value the needs and the perspectives of their significant others or their social community (Chang, & Lee, 2012). This coincides with the past studies that revealed interdependent relationships has important consequences for allocentric individuals' psychological adjustment and health including children (e.g., Schaerfl, 2009), and impact on romantic relationship passion and commitment (Bejanyan, Marshall, & Ferenczi, 2015).…”

Habla Mi Idioma? An Exploratory Review of Working Systemically with People from Diverse Cultures: An Australian Perspective

“…Complexity relates principally to differences in a number of areas, including family structure and composition and parenting styles based on racial, ethnic, and religious determinants. Challenges relate to dilemmas encountered by therapists in carrying out cross‐cultural parenting assessments given differences on how they construct the notion of ‘family,’ which guides their parenting styles (Bejanyan et al., ).…”

“…Several authors in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia have pointed to complexities and challenges therapists face when working with families from CaLD backgrounds (Bejanyan, Marshall, & Ferenczi, 2015;Crippen & Brew, 2007;Sawrikar, 2009Sawrikar, , 2013Singh & Clarke, 2006). Complexity relates principally to differences in a number of areas, including family structure and composition and parenting styles based on racial, ethnic, and religious determinants.…”

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