The impact of past relationships on interpersonal behavior: Behavioral confirmation in the social-cognitive process of transference

Author(s): Andersen, S. M.

Journal/Book: J Personal Soc Psychol. 2000; 79: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, USA. Amer Psychological Assoc. 546-562.

Abstract: This study extended research on transference in social perception (e.g., S. M. Andersen, I. Reznik, & L. M. Manzella, 1996) into the realm of social behavior by examining behavioral confirmation (e.g., M. Snyder, 1992) in transference. Each perceiver participated in a brief conversation with a naive target participant, who either did or did not appear to resemble the perceiver's own positively or negatively regarded significant other. Trained judges rated positive affect expressed in targets' behavior. As predicted, targets expressed more positive affect in their behavior when they allegedly resembled the perceiver's own positively versus negatively toned significant other, an effect not found in the control condition. This evidence demonstrates behavioral confirmation in transference, suggesting a means by which present relationships may resemble past ones.

Note: Review Berk MS, NYU, Dept Psychol, 6 Washington Pl, 468, New York,NY 10003 USA

Keyword(s): SIGNIFICANT-OTHER REPRESENTATIONS; SELF-FULFILLING NATURE; EXPECTANCY CONFIRMATION; FUNCTIONAL PERSPECTIVE; ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS; NEGATIVE EXPECTANCIES; CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS; ADULT ATTACHMENT; PERCEPTION; ACCESSIBILITY

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