Nonzero Sum Belief Intervention and Response to Conflict in Romantic Relationships
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Date
2021-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
The present three studies investigate the effectiveness of a brief psychological intervention on romantic partners' responses to conflict in their relationship. Past research has demonstrated the remarkable effectiveness of brief psychological interventions on altering behavior (Bryan, Walton, Rogers, & Dweck, 2011; Yeager & Walton, 2011). Meanwhile, previous work on romantic relationships has established a link between nonzero sum belief (the belief that conflict can be resolved in win-win ways) and healthier responses to conflict (Crocker & Canevello, & Lewis, 2017). The current studies (Total N = 392) harness the power of a psychological intervention to encourage people to perceive conflict in nonzero sum (or win-win) ways, which leads them to respond to conflict more constructively and less destructively. Participants in Study 1 (N = 191) were recruited from Amazon's Mturk and completed an intervention with three key tasks that attempted to direct them to adopt a nonzero sum belief mindset. A one-way ANOVA, however, failed to confirm the hypothesis that those who underwent the intervention would demonstrate more constructive responses to conflict and fewer destructive responses. Study 2 (N = 88) recruited participants from the introductory psychology course's Research Experience Program (REP) and attempted to more precisely target the proposed psychological mechanism governing participants' responses to conflict. A series of t-tests showed that those who underwent the intervention felt less negatively about the conflict in their relationship and reacted more responsively to their partner in a hypothetical conflict discussion than those in a control group. Study 3 (N = 113) recruited participants from the REP pool and involved further revision of the two main tasks in the intervention. A series of t-tests revealed that the participants who underwent the intervention indicated more self-reported understanding responses to conflict and more positive problem-solving behaviors in a hypothetical conflict discussion than a control group. Together, these three studies provide further evidence for the effectiveness of a nonzero sum belief intervention, which could eventually lead to healthier and happier romantic relationships.
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Keywords
Psychological intervention, Conflict, Romantic relationships, Nonzero sum belief