THE CONSTRUCTION OF RISK IN RELATIONSHIPS - THE ROLE OF FRAMING IN DECISIONS ABOUT INTIMATE-RELATIONSHIPS

Two studies examined the applicability of Kahneman and Tversky's (1979 ) notion of ''framing'' to decision making in romantic relationships. Using scenarios about hypothetical relationships, the results of Study 1 demonstrated that framing objectively identical alternatives in ter ms of losses versus gains affected participants' preferences for risky versus cautious actions Furthermore, adult attachment style was found to moderate the impact of this framing effect. Study 2 examined indiv idual differences in people's spontaneous tendencies to frame their fe elings about their actual relationships in terms of losses or gains. C onsistent with the findings of Study 1, attachment style was reliably associated with spontaneous framing. Secure individuals were most like ly to represent their feelings in terms of a ''gains frame'' whereas f earful individuals were most likely to represent their feelings in ter ms of a ''loss frame.''