Enjoying the sweet moments: Does approach motivation upwardly enhance reactivity to positive interpersonal processes?

ABSTRACT: In intimate relationships, greater social approach motivation is associated with a host of personal and relational benefits. Why is this the case? Although previous research suggests approach motivation primarily influences relational outcomes via increased exposure to positive relational events, in this research, based on approach-avoidance motivational theory, we revive the upward reactivity hypothesis, which suggests approach motivation upwardly enhances people's affective and relational experiences in response to positive social events. Specifically, we hypothesized that people with greater social approach motivation would react more positively to positively valenced interactions with their partner, and that this would occur even when accounting for their global levels of key outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Don BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9536475 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature