Monday, June 21, 2010
Couples’ Underlying Concerns During a Fight
A new Baylor University study has found that there are two fundamental underlying concerns when partners in a committed relationship fight.
Dr. Keith Sanford, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Baylor, has not only identified the underlying concerns, he also has developed a specific method to measure them.
Sanford and his research have identified the first type of underlying concern as perceived threat, which involves a perception that one’s partner is being hostile, critical, blaming or controlling.
The second type of concern is called perceived neglect, which involves a perception that one’s partner is failing to make a desired contribution or failing to demonstrate an ideal level of commitment or investment in the relationship.
The results appear in the American Psychological Association’s journal Psychological Assessment.
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