Exam 10: Understanding Each Other

How are predictions about the future of a relationship and later relationship outcomes related?

You are constantly amazed that your friend Parminder seems unaware of the negative behaviors of her boyfriend, Sam. You notice that Sam has a tendency to tease Parminder in a mean-spirited way in front of her friends. What might explain this phenomenon?

Tom and Amrita have been fighting a lot and are thinking of breaking up. After a particularly bad fight, Tom decides to pick up some flowers for Amrita on his way home. Amrita thinks that Tom is bringing her flowers because he is feeling guilty about the fight and not because he is sorry. What kind of attribution is she making?

Ali's view of his partner, Ana, is multidimensional and complex. He has an integrated understanding of her strengths and shortcomings. Given that information, what is most likely to be true about his relationship? It is likely to be:

The ________ motive suggests a preference for information that supports positive views of the partner and the relationship. The ________ motive suggests a preference for information that reflects important qualities in a partner or a relationship. The ________ motive suggests a preference for information that supports a positive view of the self, even if it does not support the relationship.