Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T02:59:02.311Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

11 - Advances in Self-Expansion

from Part III - Interdependence, Goal Pursuit, and Person Factors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2020

Laura V. Machia
Affiliation:
Syracuse University, New York
Christopher R. Agnew
Affiliation:
Purdue University, Indiana
Ximena B. Arriaga
Affiliation:
Purdue University, Indiana
Get access

Summary

In this chapter, we discuss recent empirical and theoretical advances that demonstrate how, why, and under what conditions interdependent relationships promote self-expansion (i.e., the cognitive reorganization of individuals’ self-concept due to the acquisition or augmentation of traits, perspectives, identities, and capabilities). In particular, we discuss ways in which engaging in self-expansion has the potential to not only enhance individual well-being but to also enhance close relationships. In the first section of the chapter, we review the broadening and deepening of research on the fundamental tenets of the self-expansion model. Specifically, we begin by identifying the defining characteristics of the self-expansion process, such as the underlying features of shared relational activities that foster self-expansion. We then explore cognitive and motivational antecedents of self-expansion seeking, particularly experiences that promote approach motivation and subsequent interdependence. Furthermore, we discuss the relational, behavioral, cognitive, affective, and physiological outcomes of the self-expansion process, and we consider how the outcomes of both relational and individual self-expansion shape expectations for relationships. In the second section of the chapter, we review interdependence-based extensions and applications of the self-expansion model. Specifically, we discuss additional self-concept changes that interdependent relationships can foster, including cognitive reorganizations that have deleterious intra- and interpersonal consequences. Additionally, we examine how self-expansion can occur in myriad contexts (e.g., through individual experiences, romantic relationships, friendships, the workplace, and intergroup interactions), and we explore novel applications and implications of self-expansion, such as reducing relationship conflict and intergroup prejudice. Finally, using the recent research in self-expansion as context, we discuss potential directions for future research.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acevedo, B. P. & Aron, A. (2009). Does a long-term relationship kill romantic love? Review of General Psychology, 13, 5965.Google Scholar
Agnew, C. R. & Le, B. (2015). Prosocial behavior in close relationships: An interdependence approach. In Schroeder, D. A. & Graziano, W. G. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Prosocial Behavior (pp. 362375). New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195399813.013.021Google Scholar
Agnew, C. R., Van Lange, P. A. M., Rusbult, C. E., & Langston, C. A. (1998). Cognitive interdependence: Commitment and the mental representation of close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 939954.Google Scholar
Aron, A. & Aron, E. N. (1986). Love as the Expansion of Self: Understanding Attraction and Satisfaction. New York: Hemisphere.Google Scholar
Aron, A., Aron, E. N., & Smollan, D. (1992). Inclusion of other in the self scale and the structure of interpersonal closeness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 596612.Google Scholar
Aron, A., Aron, E. N., Tudor, M., & Nelson, G. (1991). Close relationships as including other in the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 241253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aron, A., Lewandowski, G. W. Jr., Mashek, D., & Aron, E. N. (2013). The self-expansion model of motivation and cognition in close relationships. In Simpson, J. A. & Campbell, L. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Close Relationships (pp. 90105). New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Aron, A., Norman, C. C., & Aron, E. N. (1998). The self-expansion model and motivation. Representative Research in Social Psychology, 22, 113.Google Scholar
Aron, A., Norman, C. C., Aron, E. N., McKenna, C., & Heyman, R. E. (2000). Couples’ shared participation in novel and arousing activities and experienced relationship quality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 273284.Google Scholar
Aron, A., Paris, M., & Aron, E. N. (1995). Falling in love: Prospective studies of self-concept change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 11021112.Google Scholar
Bühler, J. L., Weidmann, R., Kumashiro, M., & Grob, A. (2019). Does Michelangelo care about age? An adult life-span perspective on the Michelangelo phenomenon. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(4), 13921412.Google Scholar
Burnette, J. L., O’Boyle, E. H., VanEpps, E. M., Pollack, J. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2013). Mind-sets matter: A meta-analytic review of implicit theories and self-regulation. Psychological Bulletin, 139, 655701.Google Scholar
Campbell, J. D., Trapnell, P. D, Heine, S. J., Katz, I. M., Lavallee, L. F., & Lehmann, D. R. (1996). Self-concept clarity: Measurement, personality correlates and cultural boundaries. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 141156.Google Scholar
Carson, J. W., Carson, K. M., Gil, K. M., & Baucom, D. H. (2007). Self-expansion as a mediator of relationship improvements in a mindfulness intervention. Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy, 33, 517528.Google Scholar
Cheung, E. O. & Gardner, W. L. (2016). With a little help from my friends: Understanding how social networks influence the pursuit of the ideal self. Self and Identity, 15, 662682.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cloutier, A. & Peetz, J. (2017). People, they are a changin’: The links between anticipating change and romantic relationship quality. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34, 676698.Google Scholar
Coulter, K. & Malouff, J. M. (2013). Effects of an intervention designed to enhance romantic relationship excitement: A randomized-control trial. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 2, 3444.Google Scholar
Dailey, R. M., Pfiester, A., Jin, B., Beck, G., & Clark, G. (2009). On-again/off-again dating relationships: How are they different from other dating relationships? Personal Relationships, 16, 2347.Google Scholar
DiDonato, T. E. & Krueger, J. I. (2010). Interpersonal affirmation and self-authenticity: A test of Rogers’s self-growth hypothesis. Self and Identity, 9, 322336.Google Scholar
Downey, G., Freitas, A. L., Michaelis, B., & Khouri, H. (1998). The self-fulfilling prophecy in close relationships: Rejection sensitivity and rejection by romantic partners. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 545560.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drigotas, S. M., Rusbult, C. E., Wieselquist, J., & Whitton, S. W. (1999). Close partner as sculptor of the ideal self: Behavioral affirmation and the Michelangelo phenomenon. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77, 293323.Google Scholar
Dys-Steenbergen, O., Wright, S. C., & Aron, A. (2016). Self-expansion motivation improves cross-group interactions and enhances self-growth. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 19, 6071.Google Scholar
Emery, L. F., Gardner, W. L., Finkel, E. J., & Carswell, K. L. (2018). “You’ve changed”: Low self-concept clarity predicts lack of support for partner change. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44, 318331.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emery, L. F., Walsh, C., & Slotter, E. B. (2015). Knowing who you are and adding to it: Reduced self-concept clarity predicts reduced self-expansion. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6, 259266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fivecoat, H. C., Tomlinson, J. M., Aron, A., & Caprariello, P. A. (2015). Partner support for individual self-expansion opportunities: Effects on relationship satisfaction in long-term couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 368385.Google Scholar
Franiuk, R., Cohen, D., & Pomerantz, E. M. (2002). Implicit theories of relationships: Implications for relationship satisfaction and longevity. Personal Relationships, 9, 345367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frost, D. M., McClelland, S. I., & Dettmann, M. (2017). Sexual closeness discrepancies: What they are and why they matter for sexual well-being in romantic relationships. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46, 23532364.Google Scholar
Frye, N. E. (2018). “Let’s do what together?!” Shared activity perceptions and relationship closeness. Leisure Sciences, 40, 374386.Google Scholar
Girme, Y. U., Overall, N. C., & Faingataa, S. (2014). “Date nights” take two: The maintenance function of shared relationship activities. Personal Relationships, 21, 125149.Google Scholar
Gordon, C. L. & Luo, S. (2011). The Personal Expansion Questionnaire: Measuring one’s tendency to expand through novelty and augmentation. Personality and Individual Differences, 51, 8994.Google Scholar
Graham, J. M. (2008). Self-expansion and flow in couples’ momentary experiences: An experience sampling study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 679694.Google Scholar
Graham, J. M. & Harf, M. R. (2015). Self-expansion and flow: The roles of challenge, skill, affect, and activation. Personal Relationships, 22, 4564.Google Scholar
Harasymchuk, C., Cloutier, A., Peetz, J., & Lebreton, J. (2017). Spicing up the relationship? The effects of relational boredom on shared activities. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 34, 833854.Google Scholar
Higgins, E. T. (1998). Promotion and prevention: Regulatory focus as a motivational principle. Advances in Social Psychology, 30, 146.Google Scholar
Hilaire, N. M. (2013). Self-expansion motivation and romantic liking in relationship initiation (Master’s thesis). Retrieved from https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/59/Google Scholar
Jakubiak, B. K. & Tomlinson, J. M. (in press). The role of social support in promoting self-development. In Mattingly, B. A., McIntyre, K. P., & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (Eds.), Interpersonal Relationships and the Self-Concept. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.Google Scholar
Kelley, H. H. & Thibaut, J. W. (1978). Interpersonal Relations: A Theory of Interdependence. New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Ketay, S. & Beck, L. A. (2017). Attachment predicts cortisol response and closeness in dyadic social interaction. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 80, 114121.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ketay, S., Beck, L. A., Riela, S., Bailey, C., & Aron, A. (2019). Seeing you in me: Preliminary evidence for perceptual overlap between self and close others. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36, 24742486. doi:10.1177/0265407518788702.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ketay, S., Welker, K. M., Beck, L. A., Thorson, K. R., & Slatcher, R. B. (2019). Social anxiety, cortisol, and early-stage friendship. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36, 19541974. doi:10.1177/0265407518774915Google Scholar
Ketay, S., Welker, K. M., & Slatcher, R. B. (2017). The roles of testosterone and cortisol in friendship formation. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 76, 8896.Google Scholar
Knee, C. R. (1998). Implicit theories of relationships: Assessment and prediction of romantic relationship initiation, coping, and longevity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 360370.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knee, C. R., Patrick, H., & Lonsbary, C. (2003). Implicit theories of relationships: Orientations toward evaluation and cultivation. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 7, 4155.Google Scholar
Le, B., Dove, N. L., Agnew, C. R., Korn, M. S., & Mutso, A. A. (2010). Predicting nonmarital romantic relationship dissolution: A meta-analytic synthesis. Personal Relationships, 17, 377390.Google Scholar
Ledbetter, A. M., Stassen-Ferrara, H. M., & Dowd, M. M. (2013). Comparing equity and self-expansion theory approaches to relationship maintenance. Personal Relationships, 20, 3851.Google Scholar
Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. & Ackerman, R. A. (2006). Something’s missing: Need fulfillment and self-expansion as predictors of susceptibility to infidelity. Journal of Social Psychology, 146, 389403.Google Scholar
Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. & Aron, A. P. (2004). Distinguishing arousal from novelty and challenge in initial romantic attraction. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 32, 361372.Google Scholar
Lewandowski, G. W. Jr., Mattingly, B. A., McIntyre, K. P., & Acri, L. (2016). That’s what friends are for: Self-expansion’s role in friendship. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Lewandowski, G. W. Jr., Nardone, N., & Raines, A. J. (2010). The role of self-concept clarity in relationship quality. Self and Identity, 9, 416433.Google Scholar
Lodi-Smith, J. & DeMarree, K. G. (Eds.). (2017). Self-Concept Clarity: Perspectives on Assessment, Research, and Applications. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A. & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (2013a). An expanded self is a more capable self: The association between self-concept size and self-efficacy. Self and Identity, 12, 621634.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A. & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (2013b). The power of one: Benefits of individual self-expansion. Journal of Positive Psychology, 8, 1222.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A. & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (2014). Broadening horizons: Self-expansion in relational and non-relational contexts. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 8, 3040.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A., Lewandowski, G. W Jr., & McIntyre, K. P. (2014). “You make me a better/worse person”: A two-dimensional model of relationship self-change. Personal Relationships, 21, 176190.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A. & McIntyre, K. P. (2018, July). Authentically Us: Relational Self-Change Mediates the Association Between Self-Knowledge and Relationship Quality. Presentation at the 2018 International Association for Relationship Research Conference, Fort Collins, CO.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A., McIntyre, K. P., Knee, C. R., & Loving, T. J. (2019). Implicit theories of relationships and self-expansion: Implications for relationship functioning. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36, 15791599.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A., McIntyre, K. P., & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (2012). Approach motivation and the expansion of self in close relationships. Personal Relationships, 19, 113127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mattingly, B. A., McIntyre, K. P., & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (Eds.) (in press) Interpersonal Relationships and the Self-Concept. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.Google Scholar
Mattingly, B. A., McIntyre, K. P., & Selterman, D. F. (2018). Individual differences and romantic relationships: Bidirectional influences on self and relational processes. In Zeigler-Hill, V. and Shackelford, T. K. (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Personality and Individual Differences: Volume 2. Origins of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 402430). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.Google Scholar
Maxwell, J. A., Muise, A., MacDonald, G., Day, L C., Rosen, N. O., & Impett, E. A. (2017). How implicit theories of sexuality shape sexual and relationship well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 112, 238279.Google Scholar
McIntyre, K. P., Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (2015). When “we” changes “me”: The two-dimensional model of relational self-change and relationship outcomes. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 32, 857878.Google Scholar
McIntyre, K. P., Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (2017). Self-concept clarity and romantic relationships. In Lodi-Smith, J. & DeMarree, K. (Eds.), Self-Concept Clarity: Perspectives on Assessment, Research, and Applications (pp. 107124). New York: Springer.Google Scholar
McIntyre, K. P., Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. W. Jr. (2018). Self-expansion and basic psychological needs. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Muise, A., Harasymchuk, C., Day, L. C., Bacev-Giles, C., Gere, J., & Impett, E. A. (2019). Broadening your horizons: Self-expanding activities promote desire and satisfaction in established romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116, 237258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nardone, N., Lewandowski, G. W. Jr., & Le, B. (2008, February). The Relation of Self-Expansion to Well-Being and Relationship Quality. Presentation at the 2008 annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Albuquerque, NM.Google Scholar
Reissman, C., Aron, A., & Bergen, M. R. (1993). Shared activities and marital satisfaction: Causal directions and self-expansion versus boredom. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 10, 243254.Google Scholar
Rusbult, C. E., Van Lange, P. A. M., Wildschut, T., Yovetich, N. A., & Verette, J. (2000). Perceived superiority in close relationships: Why it exists and persists. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79, 521545.Google Scholar
Sheets, V. L. (2014). Passion for life: Self-expansion and passionate love across the lifespan. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 31, 958974.Google Scholar
Shukusky, J., McIntyre, K. P., & Mattingly, B. A. (2017, November). Those Who Play Together, Stay Together: Self-Expansion Predicts Sexual Satisfaction. Presentation at the 2017 annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Atlanta, GA.Google Scholar
Slotter, E. B. & Gardner, W. L. (2012). How needing you changes me: The influence of attachment anxiety on self-concept malleability in romantic relationships. Self and Identity, 11, 386408.Google Scholar
Strong, G. & Aron, A. (2006). The effect of shared participation in novel and challenging activities on experienced relationship quality: Is it mediated by high positive affect? In Vohs, K. D. & Finkel, E. J. (Eds.), Self and Relationships: Connecting Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Processes (pp. 342359). New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Tomlinson, J. M. & Feeney, B. C. (2016). Helping Each Other Grow: Benefits of Partner Support for Self-Expansion in Retirement. Poster presented at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
Tomlinson, J. M., Hughes, E. K., Lewandowski, G. W. Jr., Aron, A., & Geyer, R. (2019). Do shared self-expanding activities have to be physically arousing? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36, 27812801.Google Scholar
Tsapelas, I., Aron, A., & Orbuch, T. (2009). Marital boredom now predicts less satisfaction 9 years later. Psychological Science, 20, 543545.Google Scholar
VanderDrift, L. E., Lewandowski, G. W. Jr., & Agnew, C. R. (2011). Reduced self-expansion in current romance and interest in relationship alternatives. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28, 356373.Google Scholar
Walker, D. & Harasymchuk, C. (2017, June). Plan a Date! Self-Expanding Relationship Activities and the Role of Approach Relationship Goals. Presentation at the 2017 International Association for Relationship Research Mini-Conference, Syracuse, NY.Google Scholar
Xu, X., Floyd, A. H. L., Westmaas, J. L., & Aron, A. (2010). Self-expansion and smoking abstinence. Addictive Behaviors, 35, 295301.Google Scholar
Xu, X., Leahey, T. M., Boguszewski, K., Krupel, K., Kent, K. A., & Wing, R. R. (2017). Self-expansion is associated with better adherence and behavioral weight loss in adults. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51, 1317.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×