Senior Project Advisor
Michael T. Warren
Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Fall 2024
Keywords
Romantic Relationship Satisfaction, Communication Styles, Personality Traits, Attachment Styles
Abstract
Satisfying romantic relationships are among the most highly sought-after life experiences, valued for their positive impact on well-being and their intrinsic ability to fulfill a fundamental need for relatedness. For this reason, this study sought to identify potential predictors of this significant experience, specifically focusing on personality traits, communication styles, and adult attachment styles, as identifying these could potentially allow for the optimization of the quality and stability of one’s interpersonal relationships. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 52 years old (Mage = 20.3, SD = 18.61, ~67% Women, 62% White, n = 223) in romantic relationships (Mduration = 15.86, SD = 18.61) participated in an online survey that assessed their relationship satisfaction in relation to personality, communication, and attachment. While most hypotheses were unsupported in this study, support was found for the hypothesis that manipulative individuals tend to experience diminished romantic relationship satisfaction, controlling for narcissistic tendencies, potentially due to the internal clash between their authentic self and the image curated for their partner(s). Therefore, being authentic when conversing with one’s partner(s) might foster feelings of trust and emotional closeness rather than guilt, thereby contributing to more fulfilling and meaningful romantic relationships.
Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Walters, Blake, "The Heart of the Matter: Unveiling Whether Communication Styles, Personality Traits, and Attachment Styles Shape Romantic Relationship Satisfaction" (2024). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 890.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/890
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf