Research Context
Implicit relationship theories suggest that people hold varying beliefs about the nature of relationships. The beliefs influence the relationship’s behaviors, actions, and feelings, including decisions concerning conflicts and how they approach disagreements. Generally, most relationships are characterized by conflicts and disagreements, sometimes violent, depending on the warring parties and their approach to the issues. The research is about the correlation between relationship beliefs and violence in close relationships. The study examines various implicit theories of relationships and their impact on the likelihood of violent occurrences in unions, particularly romantic ones.
Hypothesis
Generally, individuals with strong growth beliefs in a relationship wish for their unions to last longer and are always ready to do everything for its sake. When faced with conflicts, they remain positive and look beyond the disagreement. At the same time, they are open to resolving the contentious issue and even compromising their interest for the continuity of their union. It is therefore unlikely for people with strong beliefs in relationships to experience violent conflicts or perpetrate violence in their unions (Cobb et al., 2013). The primary hypothesis of the researchers was that growth beliefs motivate less violence in relationships, as one or both partners are willing to compromise their interests or let go of the contentious issue, thereby reducing rage.
Study 1
Participants of the Study
The research participants were undergraduate students who were in a relationship, not limited to romantic relationships, but also including other interpersonal unions, such as family, friendship, and roommate relationships. The participants had an age range of 18-54, with a median age of 19, indicating that most were young adults. The participating individuals were of mixed gender, totaling 862, with 209 males and 653 females.
Recruitment
The study participants were generally undergraduate students with experience in interpersonal relationships who were randomly picked. Most students were studying psychology and thus were interested in the study. The research was done virtually, with participants recruited through online platforms where they received the study questions and presented their responses.
Research Design
The study employed a correlational design technique, with researchers having little to no control over the participants. The research was conducted virtually, with participants presenting their responses and feedback online, making it challenging for the researchers to control and manipulate the data.
Advantages of Correlational Design
Apart from being cost-effective, the correlational design enables researchers to collect more data, thereby drawing a broader picture and a more comprehensive conclusion about the subject of interest. Since it happens in the open world, it is possible to gather more data.
Limitations of Correlational Design
A correlational design does not provide a conclusive result because the participants are outside the researcher’s control and thus cannot be regulated, making it difficult to determine the cause.
Primary Independent and Dependent Variables
In the experimental design, the dependent variable would have been violence perpetration, while the independent variable would be the growth belief (Cobb et al., 2013). Similarly, in a correlational design, the dependent variable is the violence in a close relationship, while the independent variable is growth belief.
How the Variables were Measured
The research employed a longitudinal design to investigate the impact of growth beliefs on the perpetration of violence. Growth beliefs were measured through relationship satisfaction, while violence was measured through the nature of conflict.
Summary of the Findings
The study findings showed that partners with growth beliefs experience or perpetrate lower levels of violence in their close relationships.
Study 2
Participants
The study participants consisted of 905 undergraduate students, comprising 183 males and 722 females, aged 17 to 40.
What was Done Differently?
In study 2, the researchers measured the level of satisfaction in relationships among the participants and how it influences the correlation between beliefs and physical assault.
Research Design
The researcher used a correlational design to measure the variables.
Variables in the Research
The research used a correlational design. Physical assault was the dependent variable, while relationship beliefs were the independent variable.
How the Variables were Measured
The study employed a longitudinal approach to examine the relationship between growth beliefs, the extent of physical assault, and relationship satisfaction. The relationship beliefs measured were Growth and destiny beliefs.
Result Summary
The findings showed that high satisfaction in a relationship is associated with low physical fighting (Cobb et al., 2013). Partners with growth beliefs who feel satisfaction in their relationship are likely to experience fewer physical fights, and their conflicts are less likely to turn violent.
Did the Result Match the Researchers’ Prediction?
Yes, the result matched the researchers’ prediction that individuals with strong growth beliefs and satisfaction in relationships experience a low level of violence.
Lessons from the Study
I learned that a partner’s level of satisfaction can influence the likelihood of violence in a relationship. Partners who experience high levels of satisfaction tend to have low levels of violent conflict in their relationships. Thus, the secret to a violence-free relationship is to find a satisfying partner who believes in the union.
Reference
Cobb, R. A., DeWall, C. N., Lambert, N. M., & Fincham, F. D. (2013). Implicit theories of relationships and close relationship violence: Does believing your relationship can grow relate to lower perpetration of violence?Personality and social psychology bulletin, 39(3), 279-290. Web.