Mutuality and the Communication of Commitment in Romantic Relationships

摘要

This study explored the ways people communicate their commitment to their romantic partners based on their perceived degree of mutuality of commitment. Mutuality exists when people perceive that their own and their partner's levels of commitment are equal. Data collected from 319 people indicated that (a) people have specific ways to communicate their commitment to their partners, (b) people are more likely to engage in this type of communication when they believe that they and their partners share the same degree of commitment, and (c) the emotions connected with mutuality are important links between mutuality of commitment and the ways people communicate that commitment. The findings are discussed in terms of how couples construct commitment through communication.