Seeking and ensuring interdependence: Commitment desirability and the initiation and maintenance of close relationships

• Main Authors: TAN, Kenneth, AGNEW, Christopher R., HADDEN, Benjamin W.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2019
• Subjects: commitment; commitment desirability; close relationships; relationship receptivity; perceived partner commitment; Personality and Social Contexts; Social Psychology; Social Psychology and Interaction
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2843; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/4100/viewcontent/Seeking_and_Ensuring_Interdependence_Desiring_Commitment_and_the_Strategic_Initiation_and_Maintenance_of_Close_Relationships.pdf; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/4100/filename/0/type/additional/viewcontent/Commitment_Desirability_Scale_Development_and_Validation___OSM.pdf; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/4100/filename/1/type/additional/viewcontent/Tan_OnlineAppendix.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

The current research offers and examines the concept of commitment desirability, defined as the subjective desire to be involvedin a committed romantic relationship at a given time. In pursuing their desire for a committed romance, how do individualshigh in commitment desirability strategically ensure success? We suggest that high perceived partner commitment is soughtby individuals who themselves desire to be involved in a committed relationship. In three studies involving individuals bothcurrently involved and not involved in a relationship, we found support for the hypothesized interactive effect of commitmentdesirability and perceived partner commitment, such that greater commitment desirability was associated with more positiverelationship outcomes, especially when partners were perceived to be high in commitment. The present research suggeststhat commitment desirability is a meaningful predictor of relationship attitudes and behaviors. Implications for understandingrelationship commitment as well as future research directions are discussed.