Accuracy and Bias in Relationship Maintenance

doi:10.1017/9781108304320.013

13 - Accuracy and Bias in Relationship Maintenance

from Part III - Processes of Relationship Maintenance

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2019

Edward P. Lemay and

Nadya Teneva

Edited by

Brian G. Ogolsky and

J. Kale Monk

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Brian G. Ogolsky: Affiliation:
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
J. Kale Monk: Affiliation:
University of Missouri

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Summary

The belief that a relationship partner values and promotes one’s welfare is central to many theories of interpersonal relationships. In this chapter, we review research on accuracy and bias in these perceptions of benevolence and their implications for relationship maintenance. A key conclusion emerging from this literature is that people’s perceptions of their relationship partners’ benevolence are both accurate and biased. Suggesting the operation of a confirmation bias, people’s chronic and generalized beliefs regarding other people’s benevolence appear to bias perceptions of partners’ benevolence within specific relationships. Suggesting the operation of a motivated wishful thinking bias, people’s desires to maintain close relationships with particular partners also bias perceptions of those partners’ benevolence. Despite these biases, there is also evidence for accuracy in perceptions of benevolence. Each of these processes, in turn, appears to shape people’s willingness to enact relationship maintenance behaviors. Suggested directions for future research are described.

Keywords

accuracy bias trust relationship maintenance interpersonal relationships

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Type: Chapter
Information: Relationship Maintenance
Theory, Process, and Context
, pp. 240 - 262

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108304320.013 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

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