Self-evaluation maintenance in marriage: Toward a performance ecology of the marital relationship.

The self-evaluation maintenance (SEM) model was originally developed to integrate distinct literatures on the potential positive and negative consequences for the self of being outperformed by others. Because close others are of particular importance for both of the basic processes thought o underlie the SEM model, committed heterosex-ual relationships provide an area in which relatively robust SEM effects hould occur. In keeping with the expectation that SEM effects would be present among committed, heterosexual, married couples, the current series of studies demonstrated (a) that experimental manipulations of SEM processes influenced the behavior of married couples, (b) that patterns of couple outcomes conformed to predictions derived from the SEM model, and (c) that SEM effects accounted for inaccurate perceptions of partner needs. Expressions of positive and negative feelings and the nature of affectional exchange are clearly important in understanding relationship quality. However, given that human pair bond-ing may carry a wide range of personal and economic onsequences, it seems inevitable that performance considerations will play some role in evaluations of relationships and in their de-velopment. Indeed, "working well together " is an aspect of satisfaction often assessed irectly Editor's Note.! would like to thank Frank Fincham for his assistance in planning and editing this special section--RFL