Failure to capitalize on sharing good news with romantic partners: Exploring positivity deficits of socially anxious people with self-reports, partner-reports, and behavioral observations

Abstract

Extending prior work on social anxiety and positivity deficits, we examined whether individual differences in social anxiety alter the ability to share and respond to the good news of romantic partners (i.e., capitalization support) and how this influences romantic relationship satisfaction and commitment. In this study of 174 heterosexual couples (average age of 21.5 with 58.3% identifying as Caucasian), greater social anxiety was associated with the provision and receipt of less supportive responses to shared positive events as measured by trait questionnaires, partner reports, and behavioral observations in the laboratory. In longitudinal analyses, individuals in romantic relationships with socially anxious partners who experienced inadequate capitalization support were more likely to terminate their relationship and report a decline in relationship quality six months later. As evidence of construct specificity, social anxiety effects were independent of depressive symptoms. Taken together, social anxiety influenced a person's ability to receive and provide support for shared positive events; these deficits had adverse romantic consequences. Researchers and clinicians may better understand social anxiety by exploring a wider range of interpersonal contexts and positive constructs. The addition of capitalization support to the social anxiety literature offers new insights into interpersonal approaches and treatments.

Perceived responsiveness during an initial social interaction with a stranger predicts a positive memory bias one week later

“…Future studies should replicate our findings using the PCRA. It should be noted, however, that other studies of perceived responsiveness (e.g., Kashdan et al, 2013) used measures similar to the current PERCEIVED RESPONSIVENESS DURING INITIAL INTERACTIONS COGNITION AND EMOTION, 2015, 29 (2) study with results comparable to the existing literature.…”

“…A supportive response to information disclosed suggests that an interaction partner cares about the discloser's well-being. Among romantic couples, a tendency towards positive responses to self-disclosure has been shown to translate into greater relationship satisfaction and commitment (Gable, Gonzaga, & Strachman, 2006;Kashdan, Ferssizidis, Farmer, Adams, & McKnight, 2013;Maisel, Gable, & Strachman, 2008). Moreover, perceived responsiveness is related to secure attachment styles (Shallcross, Howland, Bemis, Simpon, & Frazier, 2011) and high self-esteem (Smith & Reis, 2012).…”

Positive and Negative Affect as Links Between Social Anxiety and Depression: Predicting Concurrent and Prospective Mood Symptoms in Unipolar and Bipolar Mood Disorders

“…Speculatively, a socially anxious individual with remitted BD might appraise social displays of positive emotion as excessive or embarrassing, leading to suppression of the expression of PA and potentially the suppression of the experience of PA. Indeed, individuals with social anxiety suppress their outward expression of positive emotion (Farmer & Kashdan, 2012), which in turn contributes to dampened PA, negative interpersonal consequences, and increased depression (Gross & John, 2003; Kashdan, Ferssizidis, Farmer, Adams, & McKnight, 2013; O’Toole, Jensen, & Fentz, 2014). Thus, for individuals with remitted BD, the suppression of positive emotion due to social concerns may be one way in which social anxiety confers risk for depression through changes in PA for individuals with remitted BD.…”

Depressive Symptoms in Women and the Preference and Emotional Benefits of Discussing Positive Life Events

“…Further, as stated previously, it is essential to examine the potential for emotional benefits when capitalizing in pre-existing relationships, given that self-selection of unsupportive close others (Stroud, Feinstein, Bhatia, Hershenberg, & Davila, 2014) or negative cognitive biases (Alloy et al, 1999) could negatively impact the perception of the interaction for those with greater symptoms of depression. Finally, we did not include in our study design a measure of social anxiety, which could be driving the emotional benefit effect (Kashdan et al, 2013), particularly given the use of a stranger paradigm. Indeed, it is plausible that those with greater social anxiety symptoms (over and above depressive symptoms) would have experienced greater exacerbation of negative emotion prior to the interaction and greater relief (reduction in negative emotion) and increases in positive emotion following the overtly supportive response.…”

“…Specifically, research has examined individual factors that impact the rewards of capitalization, particularly how self-esteem (Smith & Reis, 2012), social anxiety (Kashdan, Ferssizidis, Farmer, Adams, & McKnight, 2013), and attachment (Shallcross, Howland, Bemis, Simpson, & Frazier, 2011) negatively impact the perception and provision of support in romantic relationships. To date, little research has been conducted outside of romantic dyads or focused on factors that affect the preference to electively initiate or engage in the capitalization process.…”