Chapter 12 - Interpreting Experience

experiences

used to evaluate and create meaning

relative

different meaning from same event

conclusions about the world

based on more than others’ behavior

draw on our expectations to interpret others’ behaviors

information processing

most useful tools we have for this is our beliefs and values

beliefs

an idea or theory about what relationships are like

“couples who fight are probably unhappy”

value

an opinion or attitude about what relationships should be like

“couples should agree more often than they disagree”

organize information about the world and come to conclusions

varies along a continuum ranging from specific observations, to mid range beliefs to general feelings or evaluations

specific observations

my partner make great lasagna

mid range beliefs

my partner is a great cook

general feelings or evaluations

I love my partner

evaluate relationship

against each of their beliefs and values

people vary in their beliefs about what makes a relationship satisfying

ideal standards model

The more people's current relationship differs from their ideals, the less satisfied they are with the relationship.

perceptual confirmation

occurs when people use their existing relationship beliefs and values to interpret ambiguous behaviors of their partners

behavioral confirmation

People's behavior toward their partner matches their specific relationship beliefs and values.

self fulfilling prophesy

Their partner will likely respond in accordance with their behavior, resulting in this 

motivated reasoning

support interpretations that have positive outcomes for them

motive

People would prefer to reach certain conclusions about their partner

bias

People interpret the information available to help reach their desired conclusions

enhancement motive

everyone wants to be in a relationship with a wonderful person

enhancement bias

people are motivated to process information that supports the desired positive belief

people frequently see their partners more positively than their partners see themselves

accuracy motive

people are motivated to view their partners accurately especially when making crucial decisions 

diagnosticity bias 

People show a preference for information that indicates important qualities about a partner

people want to feel

they can predict what their partner will do and how their partner is likely to respond

as a result they may fall prey to confirmation bias 

confirmation bias

which is a preference for information that supports what we already know about a partner or a relationship.

global areas

People tend to view their partners more positively than they view themselves with respect to

ex - people see their partners as more kind than their partners see themselves

specific areas

People tend to view their partners accurately with respect to

ex - people and their partners agree about how well the partner can make lasagna

Accommodation

Existing beliefs are changed in response to new information.

• when a partner who is thought to be reliable is late, he or she may no longer be perceived as reliable.

Assimilation

New information is simply added to old information to elaborate on views about the partner or the relationship.

• Satisfying relationships rely more on assimilation, as they already have generally positive views.

selective attention

People may simply ignore this negative information.

This works up to a point. If there is too much negative information, there comes a time when it cannot be ignored.

most people are motivated to maintain a positive view of their partner 

attributions

people may explain away negative information as being due to circumstances rather than to their partner and as being as temporary thing

• It is easier to live with a partner who is in a bad mood if that bad mood is due to temporary stress at work than to the partner being a pessimist.

locus dimension

whether the attribution is internal or external to the person

stability dimension

whether the attribution was temporary or stable