Who am I in it for? Interpersonal Goals and Secure Base Support

Abstract

Research has proposed a model of relationships that highlights the importance of two interpersonal goals: compassionate and self-image. The present research explored the role of interpersonal goals in shaping secure base support in romantic relationships. Using a cross-sectional design, Study 1 found that compassionate and self-image goals are, respectively, associated with higher and lower secure base support provision for one's romantic partner, controlling for emotional responsiveness. Study 2 employed a diary design in which within-person and a series of lagged analyses provided evidence that compassionate goals and self-image goals predict daily secure base support. Overall, the research provides evidence that interpersonal goals may influence secure base support provision for romantic partners, and are thus important for romantic relationship processes.

Keywords::

• Goals
• Social Support
• Secure Base
• Responsiveness
• Diary Data

Notes

^1. Although prior work has noted that compassionate goals do not increase altruism (Crocker & Canevello, 2008), defined as giving to partners at a cost to oneself, we refer to compassionate goals as “selfless” as the focus of compassionate goals is not on an outcome for the self, but rather on the well-being of one's partner.

^2. At the request of the editor and an anonymous reviewer, we ran exploratory analyses that controlled for general factors of relationships. In Study 1, the interpretation of results from Study 1 remains unchanged controlling for either relationship duration or satisfaction. In Study 2, the interpretation of both concurrent daily analyses and lagged analyses remains unchanged in models that control for daily relationship satisfaction.