COMMITMENT PROCESSES IN ACCOUNTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREMARITAL RELATIONSHIPS

We examined the subjective processes by which premarital partners (n = 113) become more or less committed to wed over time. Two commitment p rocesses were identified, In relationship-driven commitments, commitme nt evolved smoothly with few reversals. To explain changes in commitme nt, partners focused on their interaction and activities with one anot her and with their joint network and on positive beliefs about the rel ationship and about network members. Event-driven commitments had more extreme changes in commitment, with sharp downturns alternating with sharp upturns. Partners attributed changes to episodes of self-disclos ure and conflict negative relationship beliefs, separate interaction w ith network members, and negative network beliefs. On several measures , event-driven partners reported more negative relationship experience s and were less compatible. Yet the two groups did nor differ on love or other indicators of involvement. The implications of the two proces ses for marital decisions are discussed.