Romantic relationship status biases the processing of an attractive alternative's behavior

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Title:	Romantic relationship status biases the processing of an attractive alternative's behavior
Author(s):	Visserman, M.L.; Karremans, J.C.T.M.
Publication year:	2014
Source:	Personal Relationships, vol. 21, iss. 2, (2014), pp. 324-334
ISSN:	1350-4126
DOI:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pere.12035
Publication type:	Article / Letter to editor
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item : http://hdl.handle.net/2066/129526
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Subject:	Behaviour Change and Well-being
Organization:	SW OZ BSI SCP
Journal title:	Personal Relationships
Volume:	vol. 21
Issue:	iss. 2
Page start:	p. 324
Page end:	p. 334
Abstract:	The present research examines whether romantically involved individuals process behavioral information of attractive alternatives in a biased manner. When presented with behavioral information of an attractive mate, in Study 1 involved (vs. uninvolved) participants tended to recall fewer positive behaviors of an attractive alternative. Study 2 demonstrated that involved participants recalled more negative behaviors, and also evaluated these behaviors more negatively, compared to uninvolved participants. Study 3 demonstrated that romantically involved participants recalled more negative (but also neutral) behaviors when it concerned behaviors displayed by an attractive alternative as compared to a same-sex other. These findings provide initial evidence for biased processing of behavioral information of an alternative mate, which may serve an important relationship protection function.