Partner's understanding of affective-cognitive meta-bases predicts relationship quality

• Main Authors: TAN, Kenneth, SEE, Ya Hui Michelle, Agnew, Christopher R.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2015
• Subjects: Cognitive Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3425; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/4682/viewcontent/5.2_tan_see_agnew__15__pr_meta_bases_and_relationship_satis.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Knowledge that partners have about each other's attitudes are consequential for relationship quality. This article extends prior research and examines whether knowledge regarding a partner's meta-attitudinal bases, or subjective perceptions of how one's attitudes are driven, can influence relationship quality. Given how meta-bases are reflective of information-processing goals, we hypothesized that partner understanding of meta-attitudinal bases would positively predict relationship quality. Self and partner ratings of how relationally relevant attitudes were driven, as well as perceptions of relationship quality, were assessed. Results revealed that a partner's knowledge of one's meta-bases positively predicts one's own reported relationship quality. Results remained significant when controlling for relationship duration and meta-bases similarity. Implications of meta-bases understanding for close relationship functioning are discussed.