Directive and Interpretive Functions of World Beliefs in Dyadic Interaction: Providing and Perceiving Social Support

Prior research suggests that world beliefs may play a role in directing action and interpreting new information. However, little is known regarding how world beliefs impact close relationships. The current research examines these directive and interpretive functions of world beliefs in the context of observed social support interactions between romantic partners using a comprehensive measure of primal world beliefs, and examines implications for affective experience and psychological well-being. Both members of romantic couples (N = 235 couples) discussed personal problems and a panel of observers assessed support-seeking and responsive support behavior during their conversations. When listening to their partner’s problems, participants who saw the world as Enticing (i.e., replete with rewards and worth exploring) were more responsive to their partner’s bids for support. When discussing their own problems, participants who saw the world as Good and Enticing perceived that their partner was more supportive, independent of partner-reported and objectively assessed support provision, and these perceptions predicted improved mood at the end of the conversation and greater well-being a year later. These results provide novel support for the directive and interpretive functions of world beliefs in the context of social support interactions between romantic partners, and suggest that world beliefs may influence affective experience and well-being through their impact on support perceptions.