THE SELF-FULFILLING NATURE OF POSITIVE ILLUSIONS IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS - LOVE IS NOT BLIND, BUT PRESCIENT

It is proposed that satisfying, stable relationships reflect intimates ' ability to see imperfect partners in idealized ways. In this study o f the long-term benefits ( or possible costs) of positive illusions, b oth members of dating couples completed measures of idealization and w ell-being 3 times in a year. Path analyses revealed that idealization had a variety of self-fulfilling effects. Relationships were most like ly to persist-even in the face of conflicts and doubts-when intimates idealized one another the most. Intimates who idealized one another mo re initially also reported relatively greater increases in satisfactio n and decreases in conflicts and doubts over the year. Finally, indivi duals even came to share their partners' idealized images of them. In summary, intimates who idealized one another appeared more prescient t han blind, actually creating the relationships they wished for as roma nces progressed.