Can I tolerate that kind of behaviour? Self-esteem, expected benefits, risk perceptions and risk tolerance in romantic relationships.

ABSTRACT: Previous research has relied on characteristics of relationship behaviours (e.g., choosing/avoiding intimacy) as evidence of prioritising potential rewards over the perceived risks (i.e., interpersonal risk tolerance). Across four studies (N_total = 1422), we drew from psychological risk-reward models of decision-making to test whether perceived risks, benefits, and/or risk tolerance were associated with relationship goals and behaviours. Self-esteem was positively associated with expecting greater benefits and perceiving less risk in relationship behaviours but not with differences in risk tolerance (i.e., tolerance of risks perceived; Studies 1 & 2). Furthermore, greater expected benefits were associated with connection goals and engaging in those behaviours, whereas greater pe

SUBMITTER: Lamarche VM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11789455 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature