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| Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2008): |
Navigating personal and relational concerns: the quest for equilibrium.
Full Abstract
The authors' personal-relational equilibrium model suggests that people come to seek equilibrium in their dedication to personal and relational concerns in that these 2 important needs cannot always be gratified simultaneously. The authors proposed that the experience of personal-relational disequilibrium motivates attempts to restore equilibrium and that achieving equilibrium promotes life satisfaction. Four studies revealed good support for the model. In Study 1, a manipulation of anticipated future disequilibrium (vs. equilibrium) as a result of overdedication to either the personal or relational domain caused reduced motivation to address concerns in that domain and increased motivation toward the complementary domain. In Study 2, narratives describing disequilibrium experiences (vs. equilibrium experiences) exhibited increased motivation to restore equilibrium and reduced life satisfaction. In Study 3, diary reports of everyday disequilibrium were associated with increased same-day motivation to restore equilibrium, reduced same-day life satisfaction, and increased next-day dedication of effort to the complementary domain. In Study 4, experiences of disequilibrium predicted reduced well-being 6 months later. Collectively, these findings extend knowledge of how people regulate themselves toward equilibrium in pursuing 2 fundamental human concerns.
Author information
Author/s: Kumashiro, Madoka (M); Rusbult, Caryl E (CE); Finkel, Eli J (EJ);
Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, London, UK. madoka_kumashiro(-atsign-)yahoo.com
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Journal: Journal of personality and social psychology (J Pers Soc Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 95 (issue 1) : pp 94-110
Dates: Created 2008/07/08; Completed 2008/11/04;
PMID: 18605854, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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