| Abstrakt: | The experience of romantic partner's harming behaviour is a diagnostic situation
for a relationship (so-called: interdependence dilemma). In the reaction to partner's
transgression, the stable tendency to transform motivation from self-protective to relationshipprotective
(aimed at relationship's maintainance) is displayed. Personality dispositions,
connected with sensitivity towards social stimuli, are among the predictors of tendency to
motivational transformation (i.e. rejection sensitivity). From the biological theories
of personality point of view, relationship threat could be regarded as an aversive
stimulus/reinforcement. Psychoneurobiologial systems of behavioural inhibition, and fightflight-
freezing, are responsible for reactions towards aversive stimuli and reinforcements.
Interpersonal differences in reactivity of behavioural inhibition system, fight-flight0freezing
system, but also – dedicated to reacting toward apetitive stimuli (toward one's romantic
partner among others) – behavioural activation system, could be a predictor of tendency to
overcome anger toward offender and directing benevolence toward him.
In the paper, the problem of relationship between reactiveness of behavioral approach
system (BAS), behavioral inhibition system (BIS), and fight-flight-freezing system (FFFS),
and reactions to harm (interpersonal transgression), described in the accomodation theory:
active and destructive (exit), active and constructive (voice), passive and destructive (neglect),
and passive and constructive (loyalty), was undertaken. In the studies there was also taken
into account a role of characteristics of independence in the relationship. There were also
tested mediatory mechanisms, based on the current models of reactions in close relationships:
risk regulation model, relational incentive and threats sensitivity, motivation-management theory of responsiveness, social motives model, and predictory role of emotion regulation
strategies.
Three studies examined assumptions that lead us to hypothesize about associations
between general reinforcement sensitivities systems and reactions to harm. Their aim was
to examine a status of aversiveness of partner's transgressions, make adescriptions
of reactions to harm (Exit, Voice, Loyalty, Neglect) in terms of reinforcement sensitivity
theory, and examine of the applicability of defensive distanse and defensive direction in the
analysis of reaction to partner's transgressions in romantic relationships. Afterwards, six
studies were conducted, in which a selected associations mentioned in the research model
were analysed, and next a full examination of a model in the study with
marriage couples. Results showed that high reactiveness of behavioral inhibition system and fight-flightfreeze
system is predictive for a stronger experience of anger and hurt after partner's
transgression, and the readiness to reactions of Exit and Neglect. The abovementioned
assotiations were moderated by sense of power in relationship, and to a minor degree, by
commitment and closeness towards romantic partner. It was also demonstrated that
associations between behavioral activation system, behavioral inhibition system, and fightflight-
freeze system and reactions to harm are mediated by self-esteem, relational incentives
and threats sensitivity, and emotion regulation strategies (mainly by a rumination). A higher
effectiveness of risk regulation model, and relational incentives and
threats sensitivity model in comparison to other models, that try to
describe a reactions in interdependence dillemas (diagnostic situation) was confirmed. It was
also proposed to accept a model that estabishes a mediatory role of emotiona strategies.
The limitations, future directions, and practical applications of the obtained results were
discussed. |