Social allergies in romantic relationships: Behavioral repetition, emotional sensitization, and dissatisfaction in dating couples

Abstract

A social allergy is a reaction of hypersensitive annoyance or disgust to a repeated behavior. Two studies were conducted on the social allergen categories of uncouth habits, inconsiderate acts, intrusive behaviors, and norm violations. Study 1 focused on hypothetical male and female partner behaviors at 2 and 12 months in a dating relationship. Study 2 obtained reports of social allergens performed by the individual and partner in dating couples, as well as the individual's emotional responses and relationship outcomes. Social allergens were perceived to increase in frequency over time in both studies, with some indications that men were more uncouth and norm violating and women were more inconsiderate and intrusive. Study 2 also found that the more often that the partner performed an allergenic behavior, the stronger was the individual's negative emotional reaction. Further, frequent and emotionally intense social allergens were associated with relationship dissatisfaction, and with termination assessed a year later.

Tainted love: Exploring relationship-centered obsessive compulsive symptoms in two non-clinical cohorts

“…The repeated compulsive nature of relationship-related OC symptoms can also lead to the development of ''social allergies,'' whereby hypersensitive annoyance or disgust is developed towards repeated partner behaviors (Cunningham, Shamblen, Barbee, & Ault, 2005). According to this view, an annoying partner behavior activates memories of similar prior incidents (i.e., mood congruent memory; Blaney, 1986) together with the negative affect that was associated with them.…”

Why Seemingly Trivial Events Sometimes Evoke Strong Emotional Reactions: The Role of Social Exchange Rule Violations

“…The fact that the precipitating event is often trivial suggests that people are reacting to the perpetrator's intent, lack of consideration, or general unsuitability as an exchange partner rather than to the behavior per se. Furthermore, as Cunningham's work has shown (Cunningham et al, 2005), in many cases, mild transgressions initially elicit a very weak reaction, if any at all. Only with repeated exposures do people begin to react strongly, suggesting that their response is mediated by inferences about the person who repeatedly does such a thing.…”

“…People often react strongly to such behaviors in ways that not only create awkward encounters and conflicts (Cunningham, Shamblen, Barbee, & Ault, 2005) but also fuel domestic violence and child abuse (Mann, 1988); righteous indignation and moral outrage (Tannenbaum, Uhlmann, & Diermeier, 2011); culture-of-honor violence (Cohen, Nisbett, Bowdle, & Schwarz, 1996); road rage (Neighbors, Vietor, & Knee, 2002); crimes of passion (Scarpa & Raine, 2000); and extreme collective reactions to seemingly inconsequential slights against one's national, ethnic, or religious group (Sageman, 2008). The present article examines one set of factors that lead people to experience stronger emotions than seem warranted by the seriousness of the precipitating event.…”

Relational Competence Theory

“…AA styles are the most dysfunctional styles; RR styles are intermediate along a continuum of functionality; CC styles are the most functional styles. RR styles include cluster C disorders on the internalizing side and cluster B disorders on the externalizing side (Aalsma & Lapsley, 2001;Cunningham, Shamblen, Barbee, & Ault, 2005;Orner & Stolz, 2002). The most dysfunctional AA styles includes axis I disorders, cluster A of axis II, and coexisting disorders, such as addictions, physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, and extreme criminalities overlapping with psychopathological disorders.…”