TY - JOUR
T1 - Forbidden Fruit
T2 - Inattention to Attractive Alternatives Provokes Implicit Relationship Reactance
AU - DeWall, C. Nathan
AU - Maner, Jon K.
AU - Deckman, Timothy
AU - Rouby, D. Aaron
PY - 2011/4
Y1 - 2011/4
N2 - Being inattentive to attractive relationship alternatives can enhance relationship well-being. The current investigation, however, demonstrates that implicitly preventing people from attending to desirable relationship alternatives may undermine, rather than bolster, the strength of that person's romantic relationship. Consistent with the notion of " forbidden fruit," we found that subtly limiting people's attention to attractive alternatives reduced relationship satisfaction and commitment and increased positive attitudes toward infidelity (Experiment 1), increased memory for attractive relationship alternatives (Experiment 2), and increased attention to attractive alternatives (Experiment 3). Findings suggest that although attention to attractive alternatives can harm one's relationship, situations that implicitly limit one's attention to alternatives can, rather ironically, increase the temptation of alternatives and undermine relationship well-being.
AB - Being inattentive to attractive relationship alternatives can enhance relationship well-being. The current investigation, however, demonstrates that implicitly preventing people from attending to desirable relationship alternatives may undermine, rather than bolster, the strength of that person's romantic relationship. Consistent with the notion of " forbidden fruit," we found that subtly limiting people's attention to attractive alternatives reduced relationship satisfaction and commitment and increased positive attitudes toward infidelity (Experiment 1), increased memory for attractive relationship alternatives (Experiment 2), and increased attention to attractive alternatives (Experiment 3). Findings suggest that although attention to attractive alternatives can harm one's relationship, situations that implicitly limit one's attention to alternatives can, rather ironically, increase the temptation of alternatives and undermine relationship well-being.
KW - Attention
KW - Infidelity
KW - Interest in alternatives
KW - Romantic relationships
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79953674474&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79953674474&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0021749
DO - 10.1037/a0021749
M3 - Article
C2 - 21244177
AN - SCOPUS:79953674474
SN - 0022-3514
VL - 100
SP - 621
EP - 629
JO - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
JF - Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
IS - 4
ER -