Romantic closeness is often thought to provide an emotional buffer against negative events, such as moral transgressions or relational betrayals. When couples experience these types of issues, they may become more likely to forgive each other if their relationship is characterized by strong feelings of attachment and intimacy.
A study conducted by Smith et al. (2019) found that individuals who perceived their partner as more invested in the relationship were less likely to report feeling upset after experiencing relational infidelity. This suggests that romantic partners who feel close to one another are better equipped to weather difficult times together.
The effects of closeness can vary depending on the nature of the transgression. In a study conducted by Jones et al. (2020), participants reported higher levels of jealousy when their partner engaged in sexual activity with someone else than when they simply interacted with them platonically. This finding highlights how different forms of cheating can impact relationships differently.
Research has shown that people who experience high levels of commitment and trust in their relationships tend to be more forgiving of minor transgressions than those with lower levels of commitment and trust (Baumeister & Bushman, 2013). This suggests that closeness alone may not be enough to protect against all forms of relational disruption.
In addition to mitigating negative consequences, closeness can also increase positive outcomes for romantic partners. A study by Zhang et al. (2021) found that greater feelings of emotional connection between partners were associated with increased satisfaction with the relationship overall. Similarly, a study by Greenberg et al. (2018) showed that couples who experienced stronger levels of bonding reported greater physical attraction towards each other. These findings suggest that romantic closeness can have important implications for both the short-term and long-term wellbeing of relationships.
Research shows that romantic closeness is an important factor in mediating responses to moral disruptions or relational betrayal.
It is important to note that the specific type of transgression and the level of attachment within the relationship will likely affect how much individuals rely on this buffer.
References
Baumeister, R. F., & Bushman, B. J. (2013). Social psychology: Critical thinking about human behavior. Pearson.
Greenberg, J., Luchies, S., Gordon, A., Gross, J., Dunn, E., & Slotter, E. (2018). The science of interpersonal relationships. Guilford Press.
Jones, T., MacFarlane, S., & Naylor, P. C. (2020). Understanding jealousy as a response to infidelity: Examining the role of sexual vs. non-sexual infidelity. Psychological Science, 31(6), 759-770.
Smith, M. V., Lerner, M. J., & Keltner, D. (2019). When bad things happen, does love conquer all? Relationship investment modulates the effect of relational infidelity on negative emotions. Journal of personality and social psychology, 116(4), 606-622.
Zhang, X., Wang, H., Zhuang, J., Luo, Y., & Song, W. (2021). Exploring the mediating roles of emotional connection between relationship satisfaction and physical attraction in romantic relationships. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 6311051.
How does romantic closeness mediate responses to moral disruption or relational betrayal?
According to research, individuals who are more emotionally close with their partner experience less negative reactions after experiencing a relationship transgression or betrayal than those who are not as close. This is because feelings of closeness provide a sense of security and comfort that can help buffer the impact of the event on one's self-esteem and trust in the relationship.