Partner's understanding of affective–cognitive meta‐bases predicts relationship quality

Abstract

Knowledge that partners have about each other's attitudes are consequential for relationship quality. This article extends prior research and examines whether knowledge regarding a partner's meta-attitudinal bases, or subjective perceptions of how one's attitudes are driven, can influence relationship quality. Given how meta-bases are reflective of information-processing goals, we hypothesized that partner understanding of meta-attitudinal bases would positively predict relationship quality. Self and partner ratings of how relationally relevant attitudes were driven, as well as perceptions of relationship quality, were assessed. Results revealed that a partner's knowledge of one's meta-bases positively predicts one's own reported relationship quality. Results remained significant when controlling for relationship duration and meta-bases similarity. Implications of meta-bases understanding for close relationship functioning are discussed.

Inter-individual differences in attitude content: Cognition, affect, and attitudes

“…The latter measures allowed for the derivation of indices of meta-bases understanding (how accurately an individual perceived their partner's meta-bases) and meta-bases similarity (the degree to which partners within a couple perceived similarity in their meta-bases and how accurately they perceived each other's meta-bases). Using multi-level modelling, Tan et al (2015) found that participants reported greater relationship quality when their partner had a more accurate understanding of their meta-bases, an effect that was independent of relationship length, actual within-couple similarity, and perceived within-couple similarity. Interestingly, neither actual nor perceived within-couple similarity was associated with relationship quality.…”

“…Although the above results focused on the role of inter-individual differences in a person's own attitude content in predicting evaluations of other individuals and groups, a different line of research has examined the implications of knowing the underlying cognitive-affective basis of another's attitudes. In a particularly interesting study, Tan, See, and Agnew (2015) tested whether knowledge of one's partner's attitudinal meta-bases influences the quality of romantic relationships. Because knowledge of a romantic partner's views positively influences relationship quality (see Collins & Read, 1990;Fletcher & Kerr, 2010), Tan et al hypothesized that increased knowledge of a partner's meta-bases would be linked with greater relationship satisfaction.…”