TY - JOUR

T1 - The Gray Areas of Romance

T2 - A Measure of Presumptuous Romantic Intentions

AU - Valshtein, Timothy J.

AU - Gollwitzer, Peter M.

AU - Oettingen, Gabriele

PY - 2022/8/1

Y1 - 2022/8/1

N2 - To capture the attention of a romantic partner requires thoughtful selection of effective pursuit strategies. Sometimes, these strategies err on the side of caution; in other instances, pursuers can take a bolder approach to their courtship endeavors. In the present research, we developed a measure capturing the degree to which a romantic pursuer intends to take a presumptuous course of action. Across five studies ( N total = 2,137), we validated a 13-item self-report measure: the presumptuous romantic intentions (PRI) scale. First, we used a training set to refine item content and explore factor structures. Then, using a validation set, we confirmed a bifactor solution with one general and three auxiliary factors. We then observed test-retest reliability over periods of 3 and 4 weeks, found strict measurement invariance across both relationship status (single and partnered individuals) and across gender (women and men). We also found that PRI predicted actual presumptuous romantic behavior over the subsequent month. Finally, we established a pattern of convergent and discriminant associations with relationship measures, socioemotional outcomes, executive function, dark personality traits and more. This new measure may be of interest to researchers studying intimate relationships, partner violence, and the gray area in between. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

AB - To capture the attention of a romantic partner requires thoughtful selection of effective pursuit strategies. Sometimes, these strategies err on the side of caution; in other instances, pursuers can take a bolder approach to their courtship endeavors. In the present research, we developed a measure capturing the degree to which a romantic pursuer intends to take a presumptuous course of action. Across five studies ( N total = 2,137), we validated a 13-item self-report measure: the presumptuous romantic intentions (PRI) scale. First, we used a training set to refine item content and explore factor structures. Then, using a validation set, we confirmed a bifactor solution with one general and three auxiliary factors. We then observed test-retest reliability over periods of 3 and 4 weeks, found strict measurement invariance across both relationship status (single and partnered individuals) and across gender (women and men). We also found that PRI predicted actual presumptuous romantic behavior over the subsequent month. Finally, we established a pattern of convergent and discriminant associations with relationship measures, socioemotional outcomes, executive function, dark personality traits and more. This new measure may be of interest to researchers studying intimate relationships, partner violence, and the gray area in between. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

KW - Courtship

KW - Measurement invariance

KW - Romantic relationships

KW - Scale development

KW - Stalking

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131914625&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/3e7aedf0-330d-3e4f-b0df-28141a81562a/

U2 - 10.1037/pas0001145

DO - 10.1037/pas0001145

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 35679188

AN - SCOPUS:85131914625

VL - 34

SP - 763

EP - 776

JO - Psychological Assessment

JF - Psychological Assessment

SN - 1040-3590

IS - 8

ER -