Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
J Pers Soc Psychol. 2013 Jul;105(1):38-60. doi: 10.1037/a0032600. Epub 2013 May 27.
Do optimistic expectations facilitate or hinder adaptive responses to relationship challenges? Traditionally, optimism has been characterized as a resource that encourages positive coping efforts within relationships. Yet, some work suggests optimism can be a liability, as expecting the best may prevent individuals from taking proactive steps when confronted with difficulties. To reconcile these perspectives, the current article argues that greater attention must be given to the way in which optimistic expectancies are conceptualized. Whereas generalized dispositional optimism may predict constructive responses to relationship difficulties, more focused relationship-specific forms of optimism may predict poor coping responses. A multi-method, longitudinal study of newly married couples confirmed that spouses higher in dispositional optimism (a) reported engaging in more positive problem-solving behaviors on days in which they experienced greater relationship conflict, (b) were observed to display more constructive problem-solving behaviors when discussing important marital issues with their partner in the lab, and (c) experienced fewer declines in marital well-being over the 1st year of marriage. Conversely, spouses higher in relationship-specific optimism (a) reported engaging in fewer constructive problem-solving behaviors on high conflict days, (b) were observed to exhibit worse problem-solving behaviors in the lab-particularly when discussing marital issues of greater importance-and (c) experienced steeper declines in marital well-being over time. All findings held controlling for self-esteem and neuroticism. Together, results suggest that whereas global forms of optimism may represent a relationship asset, specific forms of optimism can place couples at risk for marital deterioration.
乐观的期望是促进还是阻碍对关系挑战的适应性反应？传统上，乐观被认为是一种资源，鼓励人们在关系中积极应对。然而，一些研究表明，乐观可能是一种不利因素，因为对最好的期望可能会阻止个人在遇到困难时采取主动措施。为了调和这些观点，本文认为必须更加关注乐观期望的概念化方式。虽然普遍的性格乐观可以预测对关系困难的建设性反应，但更集中的特定关系形式的乐观可能会预测较差的应对反应。一项对新婚夫妇的多方法、纵向研究证实，性格乐观的配偶（a）在经历更大的关系冲突的日子里报告说更积极地解决问题；（b）在与伴侣讨论重要婚姻问题时，在实验室中观察到更具建设性的解决问题行为；（c）在婚姻的第一年中婚姻幸福感下降较少。相反，特定关系的乐观主义者（a）报告说在高冲突的日子里采取的建设性解决问题的行为较少；（b）在实验室中观察到更糟糕的解决问题的行为，特别是在讨论更重要的婚姻问题时；（c）随着时间的推移，婚姻幸福感下降幅度更大。所有发现均控制了自尊和神经质。总之，结果表明，虽然全球形式的乐观可能代表了一种关系资产，但特定形式的乐观可能会使夫妻面临婚姻恶化的风险。
