Display Rule Development in Romantic Relationships Emotion Management and Perceived Appropriateness of Emotions Across Relationship Stages

Abstract

A laboratoy study of early dating and mam'ed/cohabiting couples showed that perceived appropriateness of emotion expression was lowest for early daters'negativeemotions. Partners in more developed relationships managed positive emotions less than negative emotions and less than early daters managed either negative or positive emotions. Biological sex moderated the effect of valence and relationship level on discrepancy scores, the greatest diferences between stages being for males' positive emotions and females' negative emotions. A second study using partners across all stages of relationship development found evidence of a curvilinear pattern for relationship length on discrepancy scores. More management of negative emotions was reported by partners in early and later stages of relationship development. Perceived appmpriateness of emotion expression was found to increase with relationship deuelopment. Females'expressions of emotion were considered least appropriate in early-stage relationships. Together the results provide evidence of display rule evolution as relationships develop. motions are a central aspect of human existence and a fundamental feature of human relations (Buck, 1989; Burgoon, Buller, E

The role of perceived resolvability in serial arguments across the lifespan

“…In emerging adulthood dating relationships, individuals are exploring being in a romantic relationship, and the likelihood of more serious relationship development is salient. The movement from casual to serious dating is associated with increased experiences of conflict (Braiker & Kelley, 1979), increased experiences of verbal aggression (Billingham & Sack, 1987), more negative emotion (Aune et al, 1994), and increased topic avoidance (Strzyzewskiaune et al, 1996). This stage in a relationship has been characterized as turbulent, which increases the availability of triggers for conflict and the extent to which responses to issues become more intense (Knobloch, 2007; Solomon et al, 2016).…”