Perceived Partner Responsiveness as an Organizing Construct in the Study of Intimacy and Closeness
Reis, Clark & Holmes (2004) · In Mashek & Aron (eds), Handbook of Closeness and Intimacy
We use this paper in 6 places in the academy · 2 stated limits
What the study found
Researchers call it perceived responsiveness: the feeling that someone pays attention to who you really are and values it. It is the main idea behind research on closeness in relationships, and it is linked to people's well-being.
Responsiveness means paying attention to who the other person really is and supporting it. To do that, you need to know things about yourself that they have not felt able to tell you.
What the study cannot prove
This is a theory chapter that reviews other research. It is not an experiment. It defines responsiveness and argues that it matters, but it does not test any particular way of showing it.
Limits we note on the exercises
The idea comes from research on established relationships. We are applying it to a first conversation.
This is a framework built from many studies, not the result of one experiment.
Where we use it
We use this paper in 6 places in the academy. If the paper turned out to be wrong, we would have to change everything in this list. Some of the exercise instructions below are part of Gold. You can read every finding for free.
In the topics · 5
In the videos · 1
Other papers used in the same places
These papers are used in the same topics and videos as this one. That does not mean the papers agree with each other. It only means that the same exercises use both.
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Huang, Yeomans, Brooks, Minson & Gino (2017)The Experimental Generation of Interpersonal Closeness
Aron, Melinat, Aron, Vallone & Bator (1997)Couples' Shared Participation in Novel and Arousing Activities and Experienced Relationship Quality
Aron, Norman, Aron, McKenna & Heyman (2000)Beautiful Mess Effect: Self–Other Differences in Evaluation of Showing Vulnerability
Bruk, Scholl & Bless (2018)Daily Marital Interactions and Positive Affect During Marital Conflict Among Newlywed Couples
Driver & Gottman (2004)Research
A real study. We tell you what it found, how many people were in it, and what it can't prove.
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