Conditions that Promote Breakups as a Consequence of Extradyadic Involvements

The Investment Model Scale: Measuring commitment level, satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size

“…Such findings have been observed in several cultures (e.g., the United States, the Netherlands, and Taiwan), in research employing diverse methodologies and a variety of participant populations (for example, marital and nonmarital relationships, heterosexual and gay or lesbian relationships, abusive relationships; e.g., Bui, Peplau, & Hill, 1996;Buunk, 1987;Cox, Wexler, Rusbult, & Gaines, 1997;Drigotas & Rusbult, 1992;Duffy & Rusbult, 1986;Felmlee, Sprecher, & Bassin, 1990;Gelles, 1980;Hill, Rubin, & Peplau, 1976;Kurdek, 1991Kurdek, , 1993Lin & Rusbult, 1995;Lund, 1985;Rusbult, 1980aRusbult, , 1983Rusbult, Johnson, & Morrow, 1986;Rusbult & Martz, 1995;Rusbult, Verette, Whitney, Slovik, & Lipkus, 1991;Sabatelli & Cecil-Pigo, 1985;Secord, 1983;Simpson, 1987;South & Lloyd, 1995;Straus & Gelles, 1986;Strube, 1988;Strube & Barbour, 1983;Van Lange, Agnew, Harinck, & Steemers, 1997;Van Lange, Rusbult, Drigotas, Arriaga, Witcher, & Cox, 1997;White, 1980). Such findings have also been observed in nonromantic contexts-for example, in research on commitment and persistence in friendships, in formal and informal groups, and in organizational settings (e.g., Farrell & Rusbult, 1981;Kanter, 1968;Leik & Leik, 1976;Lin & Rusbult, 1995;Meyer & Allen, 1984;Mowday, Porter, & Steers, 1982;…”

Testing a Model of Communication Responses to Relationship Infidelity

“…In contrast, relationship satisfaction and perceptions of alternatives weigh more heavily on individuals' propensity to negatively communicate. Both push forces (commitment, relationship length, and investment) and pull forces (loss of previously high satisfaction, appealing alternatives) influence the likelihood individuals will breakup after an infidelity (Buunk, 1987). It appears that individuals who feel they would lose such rewards are more likely to communicate positively whereas individuals who feel they would benefit from relationship termination are more likely to communicate in a negative manner.…”

Social comparison and the drive upward revisited: Affiliation as a response to marital stress

“…This scale has proven to have a high reliability and stability, and to relate meaningfully to other variables, including relationship stability and coping with marital problems (e.g. Buunk, 1982Buunk, , 1987VanYperen and Buunk, 1990). …”