articlePsychological BulletinAug 15, 2006Closed access

Optimizing assurance: The risk regulation system in relationships.

University at Buffalo, State University of New York · University of California, Santa Barbara

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Abstract

A model of risk regulation is proposed to explain how people balance the goal of seeking closeness to a romantic partner against the opposing goal of minimizing the likelihood and pain of rejection. The central premise is that confidence in a partner's positive regard and caring allows people to risk seeking dependence and connectedness. The risk regulation system consists of 3 interconnected "if--then" contingency rules, 1 cognitive, 1 affective, and 1 behavioral. The authors describe how general perceptions of a partner's regard structure the sensitivity of these 3 "if--then" rules in risky relationship situations. The authors then describe the consequences of such situated "if--then" rules for relationship…

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800
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FWCI
24.34
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100%
References
238
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Authors

3

Topics & keywords

Keywords
  • Closeness
  • Social connectedness
  • Psychology
  • Social psychology
  • Premise
  • Contingency
  • Risk perception
  • Perception
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