Implicit theories of relationships: Who cares if romantic partners are less than ideal?

Perceived discrepancy between one's ideal and actual partner has been shown to predict relationship satisfaction. The goat of two studies was to exami ne whether implicit theories of relationships moderate this association. In Study I, data from 177 undergraduates in romantic relationships showed tha t the perception that one's partner falls short of one's ideal was generall y linked to lower satisfaction, except under cultivation (high growth/low d estiny). In Study 2, data from 61 couples showed (a) viewing one's partner favorably was associated with more satisfaction but less so among those who were higher in growth belief; and (b) cultivation predicted increased posi tivity, whereas evaluation (high destiny/low growth) predicted increased ho stility when discussing discrepancies in how they and their partner view th e relationship. Results are discussed in terms of the controversy over idea lization and authenticity in romantic relationships.