Relationship ecology and negative communication in romantic relationships:A self-evaluation maintenance perspective

The present study examined the effect of performance feedback on couple's p roblem-solving interactions. A couple's performance ecology was defined in terms of self-evaluation maintenance theory. A performance ecology is balan ced when self outperforms partner on dimensions relevant to self but irrele vant to partner and when partner outperforms self on dimensions relevant to partner but irrelevant to self As predicted, a linear trend was identified between ecology level of imbalance and negative behavior The results indic ate the potential importance of examining the performance ecology in romant ic relationships.