Publications - DO NOT EDIThttp://hdl.handle.net/10106/112742024-03-28T20:17:06Z2024-03-28T20:17:06ZWhen accuracy hurts: Reactions of anxious–ambivalent dating partners to a relationship-threatening situation.Ickes, WilliamGrich, JamiSimpson, Jeffry A.http://hdl.handle.net/10106/113542023-11-21T18:52:26Z1999-05-01T00:00:00ZWhen accuracy hurts: Reactions of anxious–ambivalent dating partners to a relationship-threatening situation.
Ickes, William; Grich, Jami; Simpson, Jeffry A.
Why are individuals who are anxious and uncertain about their partner’s love and commitment especially likely to have turbulent and unstable relationships? Guided by three theoretical perspectives—Ickes and Simpson’s (1997) model of empathic accuracy in relationships, Bowlby’s (1969, 1973) attachment theory, and Holmes and Rempel’s (1989) appraisal model of trust, we examined how one psychological process—heightened empathic accuracy in relationship-threatening situations—might be associated with personal and relational distress. The participants inferred their dating partner's thoughts and feelings from a videotaped interaction in which they and their partner rated and discussed slides of either highly attractive or less attractive opposite-sex individuals. The data revealed that the more anxious individuals were more accurate when they inferred their partner’s thoughts and feelings in this relationship-threatening situation; however, their own reported thoughts and feelings indicated greater distress and less confidence in themselves and their partner/relationship. Following the evaluation task, the more anxious individuals reported a slight yet statistically significant decrease in the perceived closeness of their relationship. Four months later, the relationships of the more anxious individuals were more likely to have ended. These findings, along with some additional results for avoidantly attached individuals, are discussed in terms of the three theoretical perspectives from which our predictions were derived.
1999-05-01T00:00:00ZWhen Accuracy Hurts, and When It Helps: A Test of the Empathic Accuracy Model in Marital Interactions.Ickes, WilliamOriña, M. MindaSimpson, Jeffry A.http://hdl.handle.net/10106/113532020-06-03T16:01:51Z2003-11-01T00:00:00ZWhen Accuracy Hurts, and When It Helps: A Test of the Empathic Accuracy Model in Marital Interactions.
Ickes, William; Oriña, M. Minda; Simpson, Jeffry A.
This study tested predictions from Ickes and Simpson’s (1997, 2001) empathic accuracy model. Married couples were videotaped as they tried to resolve a problem in their marriage. Both spouses then viewed a videotape of the interaction, recorded the thoughts and feelings they had at specific time-points, and tried to infer their partner’s thoughts and feelings. Consistent with the model, when the partner’s thoughts and feelings were relationship-threatening (as rated by both the partners and by trained observers), greater empathic accuracy on the part of the perceiver was associated with pre-to-posttest declines in the perceiver’s feelings of subjective closeness. The reverse was true when the partner’s thoughts and feelings were non-threatening. Exploratory analyses revealed that these effects were partially mediated through observer-ratings of the degree to which partners tried to avoid the discussion issue.
2003-11-01T00:00:00ZSupport provision in marriage: The role of emotional linkage and empathic accuracy.Ickes, WilliamVerhofstadt, Lesley L.Buysse, AnnDavis, MarkDevoldre, Ingehttp://hdl.handle.net/10106/113502023-11-21T18:51:04Z2008-12-01T00:00:00ZSupport provision in marriage: The role of emotional linkage and empathic accuracy.
Ickes, William; Verhofstadt, Lesley L.; Buysse, Ann; Davis, Mark; Devoldre, Inge
The goal of this investigation was to identify micro-level processes in the support provider that may foster or inhibit the provision of spousal support. Specifically, we focused on how (1) emotional linkage between the support provider and support seeker, and (2) empathic accuracy of the support provider, relate to support provision in marriage. In a laboratory experiment, 30 couples were randomly assigned to one of two conditions (support provider: man vs. woman) of a factorial design. The couples provided questionnaire data and participated in a social support interaction, designed to assess behaviors when offering and soliciting social support. A video-review task was used to assess emotional linkage and empathic accuracy during the support interaction. As expected, a greater matching of the support provider’s emotional responses with the seeker’s responses, as well as more accurate insights into the support seeking spouse’s thoughts and feelings were found to be predictive of more skilful support (i.e., higher levels of emotional and instrumental support, and lower levels of negative types of support).
2008-12-01T00:00:00ZSocial support in couples: An examination of gender differences using self-report and observational methods.Ickes, WilliamBuysse, AnnVerhofstadt, Lesley L.http://hdl.handle.net/10106/113492023-11-21T18:49:48Z2007-06-20T00:00:00ZSocial support in couples: An examination of gender differences using self-report and observational methods.
Ickes, William; Buysse, Ann; Verhofstadt, Lesley L.
Two studies were conducted to examine gender differences in spousal support. Study 1 was a survey study involving 458 married couples, and Study 2 was an observational study involving 32 married couples. Self-reports were used in both studies to assess spouses’ support behaviors and perceived support. These measures were supplemented in Study 2 with measures of observed support behavior and on-line perceived support, as assessed during support interactions. Overall, the self-report measures yielded significant gender differences in support soliciting and support provision, whereas the observational measures did not. Furthermore, the results concerning global and on-line perceived support and support profiles were inconsistent with the “support gap” perspective. These findings were discussed in light of the existing research on gender differences in support and marriage.
2007-06-20T00:00:00Z