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The Complementarity of Interpersonal Styles among Lesbian Couples
Interpersonal Research LabInterpersonalResearch.com
Patrick M. Markey & Charlotte N. Markey
Healthy Development LabHealtyDevelopmentLab.com
Complementarity
• Interpersonal behaviors invite certain responses of another interactant.
Complementarity
• Leary/Carson’s (1969) definition:
– Opposite on dominance• Dominance induces submission and submission induces
control
– Same on warmth• Warmth induces warmth and coldness induces coldness
Carson’s Model of Complementarity
Gregarious-Extraverted
(NO)
Unassuming-Ingenuous
(JK)Unassured-Submissive
(HI)
Aloof-Introverted
(FG)
Cold-Hearted
(DE)
Arrogant-Calculating
(BC)
Assured-Dominant
(PA)
Warmth
Do
mina
nce
Warm-Agreeable
(LM)
Carson’s Model of Complementarity
1) Behavioral styles are interrelated in a predictable (complementary) manner.
2) When complementarity occurs between two people their relationships tend to be more stable, enduring, and satisfying (Kieser, 1996).
Gregarious-Extraverted
(NO)
Unassuming-Ingenuous
(JK)Unassured-Submissive
(HI)
Aloof-Introverted
(FG)
Cold-Hearted
(DE)
Arrogant-Calculating
(BC)
Assured-Dominant
(PA)
Warmth
Do
mina
nce
Warm-Agreeable
(LM)
Complementarity• During various dyadic interactions, this model predicts interpersonal warmth
and dominance (c.f., Locke & Sadler, 2007; Markey, Funder & Ozer, 2003; Sadler & Woody, 2003; Sadler, et al., 2009; Markey, Lowmaster, & Eichler, 2010; Markey & Kurtz, 2006; Ansell, Kurtz, & Markey, 2008).
• Predicts diverse relationship outcomes:– Therapy satisfaction (Tracey, 2004)– Closeness of friends (Yaughn & Nowicki, 1999)– Cooperative behavior among preschool children (McLeod & Nowicki, 1985)– Number of verbal exchanges (Nowicki & Manheim, 1991)– Marital divorce (Tracey, Ryan, & Jaschik-Herman, 2001)– Relationship satisfaction with strangers (Markey, et al., 2010)– Relationship satisfaction of roommates (Markey & Kurtz, 2006; Ansell, Kurtz,
&Markey, 2008)– Relationship satisfaction among heterosexual couples (Markey & Markey, 2007)
Heterosexual Couples vs. Lesbian CouplesVariable DifferenceLife Satisfaction NoneExpressiveness NonePerspective Taking NoneNeuroticism NoneExtraversion NoneAgreeableness NoneConscientiousness NoneDepression NoneHostility NoneAnxiety NoneImpulsiveness NoneVulnerability NoneAffective expression NoneIntimacy NoneRelationship Rewards NoneRelationship Investment NoneRelationship Match NoneRelationship Alternatives NonePositive Communication NoneArguing NoneConflict NoneSatisfaction NoneCommitment None
Blumstein & Schwartz, 1983; Kurdek, 1998; 2001; 2004
Heterosexual Couples vs. Lesbian CouplesVariable DifferenceLife Satisfaction NoneExpressiveness NonePerspective Taking NoneNeuroticism NoneExtraversion NoneAgreeableness NoneConscientiousness NoneDepression NoneHostility NoneAnxiety NoneImpulsiveness NoneVulnerability NoneAffective expression NoneIntimacy NoneRelationship Rewards NoneRelationship Investment NoneRelationship Match NoneRelationship Alternatives NonePositive Communication NoneArguing NoneConflict NoneSatisfaction NoneCommitment NoneRelationship Equality Lesbian > HC / Moderate
Blumstein & Schwartz, 1983; Kurdek, 1998; 2001; 2004
Aims of Current Study
• 1) What is the relation between an individual’s own behavioral style and her romantic partner’s behavioral style of relationship quality?
• 2) Are complementary behavioral styles present among lesbian couples?
• 3) Are complementary behavioral styles related to high levels of relationship quality in lesbian couples?
Participants
• 144 women (72 couples; M age = 33.40, SD = 10.20)
• All couples were in monogamous relationships for at least six months (M = 4.68 years, SD = 3.48)
Method
• Behavioral Style. Participants rated the behavioral style of their romantic partner using an informant version of the International Personality Item Pool–Interpersonal Circumplex (IPIP-IPC; Markey & Markey, 2009).
Measuring a participant’s behavioral style with a romantic partner
Person’s A behavioral style when interacting with person BPerson’s B behavioral style when interacting with person A
A B
Person A describes the interpersonal
style of person B
Person B describes theinterpersonal
style of person A
Method
• Relationship quality. Completed the Marital Interaction Scale (MIS; Braiker & Kelley, 1979).
• High score = romantic relationship is full of love and harmony.
• Low score indicates a participant reported that their relationship does not have much love and is conflict-ridden.
• Moderate agreement (r = .52, p < .01)
Circular Structure of Informant Reports
Correspondence Index = .97, p < .001
Complementarity
• Correspondence Index = .67, p < .01
Gregarious-Extraverted
(NO)
Unassuming-Ingenuous
(JK)Unassured-Submissive
(HI)
Aloof-Introverted
(FG)
Cold-Hearted
(DE)
Arrogant-Calculating
(BC)
Assured-Dominant
(PA)
Warmth
Do
mina
nce
Warm-Agreeable
(LM)
Warmth Dominance-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
Intr
acla
ss r
*
Relationship Quality
• Actor-Partner Interdependence Model
Partner 1’s Dominance
Partner 2’s Dominance
Partner 1’s Relationship
Quality
Partner 2’s Relationships
Quality
Relationship Quality
• Actor-Partner Interdependence Model
Partner 1’s Dominance
Partner 2’s Dominance
Partner 1’s Relationship
Quality
Partner 2’s Relationships
Quality
Actor Effect
Actor Effect
Relationship Quality
• Actor-Partner Interdependence Model
Partner 1’s Dominance
Partner 2’s Dominance
Partner 1’s Relationship
Quality
Partner 2’s Relationships
Quality
Partner Effect
Partn
er Eff
ect
Relationship Quality
• Actor-Partner Interdependence Model
DominanceSimilarity
Partner 1’s Dominance
Partner 2’s Dominance
Partner 1’s Relationship
Quality
Partner 2’s Relationships
Quality
Actor-Partner Similarity Effect
Actor-Partner Similarity Effect
Warmth Similarity
Dominance Similarity
Partner 1’s Warmth
Partner 1’s Dominance
Partner 2’s Warmth
Partner 2’s Dominance
Partner 1’s Relationship
Quality
Partner 2’s Relationships
Quality
.30**
-.19*
.30**
-.19*
Actor Effect
Warmth Similarity
Dominance Similarity
Partner 1’s Warmth
Partner 1’s Dominance
Partner 2’s Warmth
Partner 2’s Dominance
Partner 1’s Relationship
Quality
Partner 2’s Relationships
Quality
.26**-.36**
.26**
-.36**
Partner Effect
Warmth Similarity
Dominance Similarity
Partner 1’s Warmth
Partner 1’s Dominance
Partner 2’s Warmth
Partner 2’s Dominance
Partner 1’s Relationship
Quality
Partner 2’s Relationships
Quality
.06
.31**
.31**
.06
Similarity Effect
Relationship Quality
• Lesbians who report loving and harmonious relationships tend to be:
• Warm = .30**• Dominant = -.19*
• Unassuming-Ingenuous (3280)
Relationship Quality
• Lesbians who report loving and harmonious relationships tend to have partners who are:
• Warm = .26**• Dominant = -.36**
• Unassuming-Ingenuous (3060)
Complementarity
• Do lesbian dyads complement each other at the level of behavioral style?
• Warmth– No relations found in terms of dyadic members warmth
• Dominance– Dyads tend to be composed on individuals dissimilar in
terms of dominance
Relationship Quality
• Lesbians who report loving and harmonious relationships tend to be similar to their partners in terms of dominance.
• Unhappy couples tend to contain one member who is dominant and one who is submissive.– Importance of equality in lesbian relationships
Level Behavioral exchanges during an interaction
Aggregate of behaviors during an interaction
Aggregate of behaviors across situations with a specific person
Aggregate of behaviors across situations and persons
What it is being assessed
Traditional definition
Behavioral tendency in situation 1
Behavioral style with person A
Personality trait
Compelentarity Best Ok Alright Not as good
Outcome level Satisfaction with a specific person during a given interaction
“How much did you enjoy this interaction?”
Satisfaction with a specific person during a given interaction
“How much did you enjoy this interaction?”
Satisfaction with a specific person across situations
“How much do you like this person?”
Satisfaction with various individuals across situations
“How much do you like this person?”
Level Behavioral exchanges during an interaction
Aggregate of behaviors during an interaction
Aggregate of behaviors across situations with a specific person
Aggregate of behaviors across situations and persons
What it is being assessed
Traditional definition
Behavioral tendency in situation 1
Behavioral style with person A
Personality trait
Compelentarity Best Ok Alright Not as good
Outcome level Satisfaction with a specific person during a given interaction
“How much did you enjoy this interaction?”
Satisfaction with a specific person during a given interaction
“How much did you enjoy this interaction?”
Satisfaction with a specific person across situations
“How much do you like this person?”
Satisfaction with various individuals across situations
“How much do you like this person?”