Keywords

Dating relationships, courtship, emotion, interference from partners, relational turbulence, relational uncertainty, intimacy, conflict, interdependence, relationship development, social allergy, reactivity, idiosyncrasies

Abstract

Romantic relationships commonly endure rough patches. The relational turbulence model and the social allergy phenomenon may account for such rough transitions. A social allergy is an idiosyncratic social behavior that involuntarily stirs up irritation in an individual, either with or without the intention of the transgressor. As the behavior is repeated, tolerance for the bothersome allergen dwindles. This paper investigates the connections between relational turbulence and social allergies. The relational turbulence model describes individuals’ severe reactions to various turning points in an interpersonal relationship, and combines the effects of increased intimacy, relational uncertainty, and partner interference. Based on the turbulence model, the author predicted curvilinear relationships between intimacy and social allergen occurrence as well as between intimacy and negative emotional impact of social allergens. Based on the social allergen literature, the author predicted social allergen occurrence and repeated arguments about social allergens would both associate positively with relationship turbulence. Partial support was found for each prediction.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2013

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Weger, Harry

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

Communication

Degree Program

Communication; Mass Communication

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0004863

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0004863

Language

English

Release Date

August 2014

Length of Campus-only Access

1 year

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences, Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

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