Stressed people tend to focus more on their romantic partner's negative behavior
Written By : Isra Zaman
Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli
Published On 2022-09-27 03:30 GMT | Update On 2022-09-27 03:30 GMT
Stressful life circumstances can affect how married couples interact, but can they affect how partners see each other? A person experiencing stress is more likely to notice their spouse's negative behavior than positive, according to a new study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science.
Researchers asked 79 heterosexual newlywed couples to complete a short survey each night for 10 days, in which they documented both their own and their partner's behavior. Before beginning this portion of the study, participants completed a questionnaire in which they shared details on stressful events in their life.
Studying newlyweds drives home the significance of the results because couples are especially likely to focus on each other's positive behavior and overlook negative actions during the "honeymoon" period.
Researchers noted a single stressful day was not enough to make someone zero in on their partner's negative behavior, but a longer accumulation of stressful life circumstances could cause this shift in focus. The findings also suggest that those under stress were not any less likely to notice their partner's positive behavior, but they were more likely to notice inconsiderate actions.
While it's possible that being aware of the effects of stress could allow couples to correct their behavior and limit harm to the relationship, Dr. Neff notes that this will remain speculation until it is studied further. She also says that future research would do well to expand this study beyond the honeymoon phase.
Reference:
Neff, Lisa A.; Buck, April A.. When Rose-Colored Glasses Turn Cloudy: Stressful Life Circumstances and Perceptions of Partner Behavior in Newlywed Marriage. Social Psychological and Personality Science.
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