Abstract
In relationships, behaviors aimed at alleviating insecurity often end up increasing it instead. The present research tested
whether a self-regulatory technique, mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII), can help people reduce the
frequency with which they engage in insecurity-based behaviors. Participants in romantic relationships identified an insecurity-based
behavior they wanted to reduce and learned the MCII strategy, a reverse control strategy, or no strategy. One week later,
participants in the MCII condition showed a greater reduction in the self-reported frequency of their unwanted behavior compared
to participants in the control conditions, as well as a greater increase in relationship commitment from 2 months prior to
the intervention.
whether a self-regulatory technique, mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII), can help people reduce the
frequency with which they engage in insecurity-based behaviors. Participants in romantic relationships identified an insecurity-based
behavior they wanted to reduce and learned the MCII strategy, a reverse control strategy, or no strategy. One week later,
participants in the MCII condition showed a greater reduction in the self-reported frequency of their unwanted behavior compared
to participants in the control conditions, as well as a greater increase in relationship commitment from 2 months prior to
the intervention.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s11031-012-9307-4
- Authors
- Sylviane Houssais, New York University, 6 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA
- Gabriele Oettingen, New York University, 6 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA
- Doris Mayer, Department of Psychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Journal Motivation and Emotion
- Online ISSN 1573-6644
- Print ISSN 0146-7239