SELF-EVALUATION MAINTENANCE IN MARRIAGE - TOWARD A PERFORMANCE ECOLOGY OF THE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP

The self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model was originally developed t o integrate distinct literatures on the potential positive and negativ e consequences for the self of being outperformed by others. Because c lose others are of particular importance for both of the basic process es thought to underlie the SEM model, committed heterosexual relations hips provide an area in which relatively robust SEM effects should occ ur. In keeping with the expectation that SEM effects would be present among committed, heterosexual, married couples, the current series of studies demonstrated (a) that experimental manipulations of SEM proces ses influenced the behavior of married couples, (b) that patterns of c ouple outcomes conformed to predictions derived from the SEM model, an d (c) that SEM effects accounted for inaccurate perceptions of partner needs.