The Dark Side of Self-Monitoring: How High Self-Monitors View Their Romantic Relationships

Individuals differ with regard to self-monitoring. Although self-monitoring is positively related to social skills, little research informs how it influences relational processes. Because self-monitoring gives rise to impression management, it may promote less intimate communication and lower relational quality. A survey of 97 (N = 97) undergraduate daters was conducted. Results revealed that self-monitoring was negatively related to intimate communication and relational quality. Intimate communication mediated the relationships between self-monitoring and relational quality. Thus, self-monitoring tendencies that enhance the quality of the communication skills of high self-monitors attenuate relational quality.