Goals ↔ Relationships

Research Questions: In what ways do relationship partners bring out the best versus the worst in us? How do our expectations of our relationship partners influence how happy we are in the relationship? How does our style of goal pursuit influence our relationships? Under what circumstances are we willing to make sacrifices to promote our partner’s goal success?

Finkel, E. J. (in press). Complementing the sculpting metaphor: Reflections on how relationship partners elicit the best or the worst in each other. Review of General Psychology. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (in press). Goal transactivity. In Van Lange, P. A. M., Kruglanski, A. W., & Higgins, E. T. (Eds.), Social psychology: Handbook of basic principles (3rd edition, pp. xxx-yyy). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Hall, A. N. (2018). The I3 Model: A metatheoretical framework for understanding aggression. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 125-130. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2018). Transactive goal dynamics theory: A discipline-wide perspective. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27, 332-338. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Fitzsimons, G. M., & vanDellen, M. R. (2016). Self-regulation as a transactive process: Reconceptualizing the unit of analysis for goal setting, pursuit, and outcomes. In K. D. Vohs, & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (3rd edition, pp. 264-282). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., Sackett, E., & Finkel, E. J. (2016). Transactive goal dynamics theory: A relational goals perspective on work teams and leadership. Review of Organizational Behavior, 36, 135-155. [Download]

Laurin, K., Fitzsimons, G. M., Finkel, E. J., Carswell, K. L., vanDellen, M. R., Hofmann, W., Lambert, N. M., Eastwick, P. W., Fincham, F. D., & Brown, P. C. (2016). Power and the pursuit of a partner’s goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 110, 840-868. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Cheung, E. O., Emery, L. F., Carswell, K. L., & Larson, G. M. (2015). The suffocation model: Why marriage in America is becoming an all-or-nothing institution. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24, 238-244. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2015). Goal interdependence. Current Opinion in Psychology, 1, 10-13. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., Finkel, E. J., & vanDellen, M. R. (2015). Transactive goal dynamics. Psychological Review. 122, 648-673. [Download]

Hofmann, W., Finkel, E. J., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2015). Close relationships and self-regulation: How relationship satisfaction facilitates momentary goal pursuit. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109, 434-452. [Download]

Arriaga, X. B., Kumashiro, M., Finkel. E. J., VanderDrift, L. E., & Luchies, L. B. (2014). Filling the void: Bolstering attachment security in committed relationships. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5, 398-406. [Download]

Burnette, J. L., Davisson, E. K., Finkel, E. J., Van Tongeren, D. R., Hui, C. M., & Hoyle, R. H. (2014). Self-control and forgiveness: A meta-analytic review. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5, 443-450. [Download]

Finkel, E. J. (2014). The I3 Model: Metatheory, theory, and evidence. In J. M. Olson, & M. P. Zanna (Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology, 49. San Diego: Academic Press. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Hui, C. M., Carswell, K. L., & Larson, G. M. (2014). The suffocation of marriage: Climbing Mount Maslow without enough oxygen. Psychological Inquiry, 25, 1-41. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Larson, G. M., Carswell, K. L., & Hui, C. M. (2014). Marriage at the summit: Response to the commentaries. Psychological Inquiry, 25, 120-145. [Download]

Hui, C. M., Finkel, E. J., Fitzsimons, G. M., Kumashiro, M., & Hofmann, W. (2014). The Manhattan effect: When relationship commitment fails to promote support for partner interests. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106, 546-570. [Download]

Bohns, V. K., Lucas G. M., Molden D. C., Finkel E. J., Coolsen, M. K., Kumashiro M., Rusbult C. E., & Higgins E. T. (2013). Opposites fit: Regulatory focus complementarity and relationship well-being. Social Cognition, 31, 1-14. [Download]

Burnette, J. L., O’Boyle, E., VanEpps, E. M., Pollack, J. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2013). Mindsets matter: A meta-analytic review of the effects of implicit theories on self-regulation. Psychological Bulletin, 139, 655-701. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Eckhardt, C. I. (2013). Intimate partner violence. In J. A. Simpson & L. Campbell (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of close relationships (pp. 452-474). Oxford: New York. [Download]

Hui, C. M., Molden, D. C., & Finkel, E. J. (2013). Loving freedom: Concerns with promotion or prevention and the role of autonomy in relationship well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105, 61-85. [Download]

Burnette, J. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Buffering against weight gain following dieting setbacks: An implicit theory intervention. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 721-725. [Download]

Denson, T. F., DeWall, C. N., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Self-control and aggression. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 21, 20-25. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., DeWall, C. N., Slotter, E. B., McNulty, J. K., Pond, R. S., Jr., & Atkins, D. C. (2012). Using I3 theory to clarify when dispositional aggressiveness predicts intimate partner violence perpetration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 533-549. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Outsourcing effort to close others. In L. Campbell, J. G. La Guardia, J. M. Olson, & M. P. Zanna (Eds.), The science of the couple: The Ontario symposium (Vol. 12, pp. 41-57). New York: Psychology Press. [Download]

Slotter, E. B., Finkel, E. J., DeWall, C. N., Lambert, N. M., Pond, R. S., Bodenhausen, G. V., & Fincham, F. D. (2012). Putting the brakes on aggression toward a romantic partner: The inhibitory influence of relationship commitment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 291-305. [Download]

Stanton, S. E., & Finkel, E. J. (2012). Too tired to take offense: When depletion promotes forgiveness. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48, 587-590. [Download]

DeWall, C. N., Finkel, E. J., & Denson, T. F. (2011). Self-control inhibits aggression. Social & Personality Psychology Compass, 458-472. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2011-b). Outsourcing self-regulatory effort to significant others. Psychological Science, 22, 369-375. [Download]

• The central finding in this paper failed to replicate in a compelling replication effort from Briskin, Kopetz, Fitzsimons, and Slatcher, 2018, SPPS). As such, I no longer view the results reported in the original paper as robust.

Finkel, E. J., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2011). The effects of social relationships on self-regulation. In K. D. Vohs, & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (2nd ed., pp 390-406). New York: Guilford Press. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2011-a). The effects of self-regulation on social relationships. In K. D. Vohs, & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (2nd ed., pp. 407-421). New York: Guilford Press. [Download]

Johnson, S. E., Richeson, J. A., & Finkel, E. J. (2011). Middle class and marginal? The influence of socioeconomic status on the self-regulatory resources of students at an elite university. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100, 838-852. [Download]

Luchies, L. B., Finkel, E. J., & Fitzsimons, G. M. (2011). The effects of self-regulatory strength, content, and strategies on close relationships. Journal of Personality, 79, 1251–1279. [Download]

Slotter, E. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2011). I3 Theory: Instigating, impelling, and inhibiting factors in aggression. In M. Mikulincer, & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Human aggression and violence: Causes, manifestations, and consequences (pp. 35-52). Washington: American Psychological Association. [Download]

Dalton, A. N., Chartrand, T. L., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). The schema-driven chameleon: How mimicry affects executive and self-regulatory resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. [Download]

Fitzsimons, G. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Interpersonal influences on self-regulation. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19, 101-105 [Download]

Molden, D. M., & Finkel, E. J. (2010). Motivations for promotion and prevention and the role of trust and commitment in interpersonal forgiveness. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46, 255-268. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., DeWall, C. N., Slotter, E. B., Oaten, M., & Foshee, V. A. (2009). Self-regulatory failure and intimate partner violence perpetration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97, 483-499. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Molden, D. C., Johnson, S. E., & Eastwick, P. W. (2009). Regulatory focus and romantic alternatives. In J. P. Forgas, R. F. Baumeister, and D. M. Tice (Eds.), Self-regulation: Cognitive, affective, and motivational processes (pp. 319-335). New York: Psychology Press. [Download]

Molden, D. C., Lucas, G. M., Finkel, E. J., Kumashiro, M., & Rusbult, C. E. (2009). Perceived support for promotion-focused and prevention-focused goals: Associations with well-being in unmarried and married couples. Psychological Science, 20, 787-793. [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Finkel, E. J., & Kumashiro, M. (2009). The Michelangelo phenomenon. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 305-309. [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., Kubacka, K. E., & Finkel, E. J. (2009). “The part of me that you bring out”: Ideal similarity and the Michelangelo phenomenon. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96, 61-82. [Download]

Slotter, E. B., & Finkel, E. J. (2009). The strange case of sustained dedication to an unfulfilling relationship: Predicting commitment and breakup from attachment anxiety and need fulfillment within relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39, 85-100. [Download]

Finkel, E. J. (2008). Intimate partner violence perpetration: Insights from the science of self-regulation. In J. P. Forgas, & J. Fitness (Eds.), Social relationships: Cognitive, affective, and motivational processes (pp. 271-288). New York: Psychology Press. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Rusbult, C. E. (2008). Prorelationship motivation: An interdependence theory analysis of situations with conflicting interests. In J. Y. Shah, & W. L. Gardner (Eds.), Handbook of motivation science (pp. 547-560). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Impett, E. A., Strachman, A., Finkel, E. J., & Gable, S. L. (2008). Maintaining Sexual Desire in Intimate Relationships: The Importance of Approach Goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94, 808-823. [Download]

Kumashiro, M., Rusbult, C. E., & Finkel, E. J. (2008). Navigating personal and relational concerns: The quest for equilibrium. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 94-110. [Download]

Finkel, E. J. (2007). Impelling and inhibiting forces in the perpetration of intimate partner violence. Review of General Psychology, 11, 193-207. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Campbell, W. K., & Brunell, A. B. (2006). High-maintenance interaction and self-regulation. In K. D. Vohs, & E. J. Finkel (Eds.), Self and relationships: Connecting intrapersonal and interpersonal processes (pp. 297-316). New York: Guilford. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., Campbell, W. K., Brunell, A. B., Dalton, A. N., Chartrand, T. L., & Scarbeck, S. J. (2006). High-maintenance interaction: Inefficient social coordination impairs self-regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91, 456-475. [Download]

Vohs, K. D., & Finkel, E. J. (2006). Self and Relationships: Connecting Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Processes. New York: Guilford Press. [Amazon.com] [Guilford Press]

Neiss, M. B., Stevenson, J., Sedikides, C., Kumashiro, M., Finkel, E. J., & Rusbult, C. E. (2005). Executive self, self-esteem, and negative affectivity: Relations at the phenotypic and genotypic level. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 593-606. [Download]

Rusbult, C. E., Kumashiro, M., Stocker, S. L., Kirchner, J. L., Finkel, E. J., & Coolsen, M. K. (2005). Self processes in interdependent relationships: Partner affirmation and the Michelangelo phenomenon. Interaction Studies, 6, 375-391. [Download]

Flora, D. B., Finkel, E. J., & Foshee, V. A. (2003). Higher order factor structure of a self-control test: Evidence from a confirmatory factor analysis with polychoric correlations. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 63, 112-127. [Download]

Finkel, E. J., & Campbell, W. K. (2001). Self-control and accommodation in close relationships: An interdependence analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 263-277. [Download]