Cognitive interdependence: Commitment and the mental representation of close relationships.

CR Agnew, PAM Van Lange, CE Rusbult…�- Journal of personality�…, 1998 - psycnet.apa.org
CR Agnew, PAM Van Lange, CE Rusbult, CA Langston
Journal of personality and social psychology, 1998psycnet.apa.org
On the basis of an interdependence analysis, it is proposed that commitment to a close
relationship is associated with cognitive interdependence—a mental state characterized by
a pluralistic, collective representation of the self-in-relationship. A cross-sectional survey
study and a 2-wave longitudinal study revealed that strong commitment to a romantic
relationship is associated with greater spontaneous plural pronoun usage, greater
perceived unity of self and partner, and greater reported relationship centrality. Commitment�…
Abstract
On the basis of an interdependence analysis, it is proposed that commitment to a close relationship is associated with cognitive interdependence—a mental state characterized by a pluralistic, collective representation of the self-in-relationship. A cross-sectional survey study and a 2-wave longitudinal study revealed that strong commitment to a romantic relationship is associated with greater spontaneous plural pronoun usage, greater perceived unity of self and partner, and greater reported relationship centrality. Commitment and cognitive interdependence operate in a cycle of mutual influence, such that earlier commitment predicts change over time in cognitive interdependence, and earlier cognitive interdependence predicts change over time in commitment. Links between commitment and cognitive interdependence were weak or nonsignificant for relationships among best friends, suggesting that this phenomenon may be unique to romantic relationships.
American Psychological Association