Lecture 5a-5b: Personality, Self-Esteem, Attachment, and Divorce

In relationship research, what matters more than partners’ personality similarity?

How each individual’s personality traits influence relationship quality regardless of the partner.

What are the five traits in the Big Five (Five-Factor) Model of personality?

Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, and Extraversion.

Define Conscientiousness within the Big Five framework.

Being reliable, disciplined, and well-organized.

Which Big Five trait reflects generosity, trust, and selfless concern for others?

Agreeableness.

Which Big Five trait involves emotional instability, anxiety, and anger?

Neuroticism.

How is Openness characterized in the Big Five?

Curiosity, imagination, flexibility, and receptivity to new ideas.

What does Extraversion capture in personality assessment?

Being outgoing, social, and seeking stimulation and activity.

According to twin studies, roughly what percentage of personality variance is genetic?

About 50%.

Why is knowing someone’s personality evolutionarily useful in social interactions?

It helps determine if they are reliable, kind, emotionally stable, open-minded, and socially active for forming relationships.

Which Big Five trait has the strongest negative effect on relationship satisfaction and divorce risk?

High Neuroticism.

How do highly agreeable partners typically respond to conflict?

With communal, sensitive, and constructive behaviors that enhance the relationship.

What practical relationship benefit is linked to Conscientiousness?

Dependable follow-through on promises, plans, and household tasks.

In the "promise study," which trait predicted keeping relationship-related promises after two weeks?

Conscientiousness.

What planning strategy can help low-conscientious individuals improve follow-through?

Creating step-by-step plans that anticipate obstacles.

What does the Dependency Regulation Model propose about self-esteem?

Self-esteem regulates how people interpret and respond to partner behavior, influencing relationship dynamics.

List two common perceptions held by people with low self-esteem in relationships.

They doubt their partner’s commitment and interpret ambiguous behaviors negatively.

How can broadening interpretations of a partner’s positive acts help low-self-esteem individuals?

It buffers against negative reactions by viewing single acts as part of a consistent pattern of care.

Online, how do low-self-esteem users’ posts tend to differ from others?

They post more negative updates, which can reduce how much others like them.

Why do researchers doubt personality-matching algorithms on dating sites predict long-term success?

Because they often ignore key factors such as communication quality, stress management, and sexual compatibility.

What matters more for relationship success than finding a perfectly matched personality?

Having personality traits (e.g., low neuroticism, high agreeableness) that support good relationships.

What is "felt security" in adult romantic relationships?

Feeling safe, cared for, and confident that one’s partner will attend to one’s needs.