Fostering relationship resilience: An intervention for low self-esteem individuals

Low self-esteem individuals (LSEs) tend to react to relationship threats with self-protective and relationship-destructive behaviors that decrease their partners' satisfaction with the relationship over time (Murray. Bellavia, Rose, & Griffin. 2003) In the current studies, we examined the effects of a theoretically driven intervention on LSEs' relationship-destructive responses to threats Participants were induced to reframe their partners' compliments in a more abstract, meaningful way (the abstract reframing intervention or ARI), an intervention that has been shown to increase LSEs' security in their relationships (Marigold, Holmes, & Ross, 2007) In Study I, the ARI prevented LSEs from exaggerating the significance of relationship threats and self-protectively derogating their relationship (reported by LSEs in a one-time experimental situation) In Study 2, the ARI reduced LSEs negative, critical behaviors towards their partners (reported by LSEs' partners RH a 2-3 week period) The findings have important implications for breaking the self-fulfilling cycle of insecurity (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved