The effects of implementation intentions on relationship maintenance responses

Abstract

Participants in committed relationships may frequently encounter interpersonal adversity. Research has shown that committed partners use relationship maintenance responses to reduce relationship threat in these situations while strengthening relationship commitment. A study was conducted to determine the effects of a relationship-defending implementation intention on three computerized tasks measuring relationship maintenance responses; gender, commitment level, and demographic information were analyzed as covariates. It was found that male and female participants differed in relationship maintenance responses, and that the formation of an implementation intention may cause individuals (particularly men) to defend their current relationship in implicitly relationship-threatening situations. Practical and academic implications of these results, including clinical possibilities and directions for subsequent studies, are discussed.