Power in Modern Romantic Relationships: A Multiple Methods Examination of How Perceptions and Experiences of Romantic Power Impact Personal and Relationship Outcomes
| dc.contributor.advisor | Oxlad, Melissa | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Strelan, Peter | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pagoudis, Stephenie Joulie | |
| dc.contributor.school | School of Psychology | en |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Despite vast literature across the social science disciplines highlighting power as an integral feature of relationships, there is a paucity of research exploring power in contemporary romantic relationships. As people’s attitudes toward romantic relationships have evolved over the decades, there is little research to understand whether people’s perceptions and experiences of power in romantic relationships have also evolved and how power affects personal and relationship outcomes. Research demonstrates that people’s beliefs about the nature of power can impact a range of personal and relationship outcomes, such as interpersonal trust and feelings of power, but lay beliefs about power are yet to be examined in romantic relationships. In this dissertation, comprising four studies, a sequential multiple-methods design was employed to explore perceptions and experiences of romantic power and how they impact personal and relationship outcomes. Study 1 aimed to examine the relationship between personal sense of power and relationship quality among couples in self-identified heterosexual romantic relationships. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model was employed to examine intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships between power and relationship quality among dyads. No gender differences were found regarding personal sense of power or relationship quality. Actor effects of personal sense of power on relationship quality were identified such that greater sense of personal power was associated with more positive evaluations of relationship quality. Partner effects were not found; one’s perception of relationship quality was not related to one’s partner’s personal sense of power. Study 2 employed qualitative methods, using semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis to explore people’s perceptions and experiences of how power is gained and maintained in romantic relationships, with Lay Theories of Power as a guiding framework. Most participants articulated features of both coercive and collaborative theories of power; the emergence of either was largely dependent on the context in which power was discussed. While both men and women were portrayed as capable of using coercive tactics to acquire relationship power, participants suggested that men adopt overt strategies, whereas women employ furtive tactics. Women additionally described how culture is functionally coercive insofar as it is structured to afford men greater power in romantic relationships. Study 3 similarly employed reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews exploring why greater power in romantic relationships may be undesirable and/or avoided. Contrary to the popular belief that power is desirable, participants’ discussions illustrated that some people do not enjoy holding too much power, particularly when power is conceptualised as responsibility for the relationship and its outcomes. Additionally, the results from this study indicated that inadvertently holding power can have negative implications for the power holder, particularly relating to their feelings of attraction toward their partner and desire to continue the relationship. Study 4 utilised an online cross-sectional survey to examine whether Lay Theories of Power predict higher relationship quality and greater psychological wellbeing over and above other power variables previously demonstrated to be associated with these outcomes. Collaborative beliefs were significantly related to greater psychological wellbeing; however, in hierarchical linear regression, they were not a significant predictor when considered with coercive beliefs. Lower coercive beliefs predicted higher relationship quality and greater psychological wellbeing. Additionally, participants who reported greater satisfaction with their partner’s ability to influence relationship decisions reported higher relationship quality. Older age was also a significant predictor of greater psychological wellbeing. When considered together, findings from this study suggest that the absence of coercive beliefs of power acquisition and maintenance is a stronger predictor of higher relationship quality and greater psychological wellbeing than the presence of collaborative beliefs. This doctoral research contributes to a re-emerging field of research and offers insights suggesting that how power is perceived and conceptualised can impact personal and relationship outcomes such as relationship quality and psychological wellbeing. Additionally, this research provides preliminary evidence to suggest that people’s beliefs about power acquisition and maintenance (i.e., lay beliefs about power) may be a better predictor of important outcomes, such as relationship quality and psychological wellbeing than previously demonstrated predictors of power. Finally, the research provided preliminary evidence to challenge taken for granted assumptions concerning the desirability and benefits of greater power in romantic relationships and provided insight into the contexts under which greater romantic power can be detrimental to the power holder and the relationship. As such, beliefs about power may be important factors to consider in relationship education and counselling. | en |
| dc.description.dissertation | Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2024 | en |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2440/142552 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en |
| dc.provenance | This electronic version is made publicly available by the University of Adelaide in accordance with its open access policy for student theses. Copyright in this thesis remains with the author. This thesis may incorporate third party material which has been used by the author pursuant to Fair Dealing exceptions. If you are the owner of any included third party copyright material you wish to be removed from this electronic version, please complete the take down form located at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/legals | en |
| dc.subject | romantic relationships | en |
| dc.subject | power | en |
| dc.subject | perceptions | en |
| dc.subject | relationship quality | en |
| dc.subject | psychological wellbeing | en |
| dc.title | Power in Modern Romantic Relationships: A Multiple Methods Examination of How Perceptions and Experiences of Romantic Power Impact Personal and Relationship Outcomes | en |
| dc.type | Thesis | en |
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