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The Changing Influence of Interpersonal Perceptions on Marital Well-Being among Black and White Couples

University of Houston, acitelli{at}uh.edu

Elizabeth Douvan

University of Michigan

Joseph Veroff

University of Michigan

This study is the longitudinal extension of an earlier study of perceptions of conflict in the first year of marriage (Acitelli et al., 1993). In both studies, we examined the relative importance (to marital well-being) of partners' similarity and understanding of conflict styles. While the earlier study related perceptions of conflict in the first year with first year marital well-being, the present study related the same first year perceptions with third year marital well-being. Two important changes appearing in the findings for the third year compared to the first year are: (1) constructive acts appeared more important than destructive acts to third year marital well-being, whereas destructive acts were more predictive than constructive acts of first year marital well-being; and (2) the association of wives' understanding of husbands to third year marital well-being was positive for black couples and negative for white couples. This association was positive for both groups in the first year. Results are discussed in terms of the ambiguity of positive interactions as well as the dissolution of the romantic myth in the course of relationship development in early marriage.

Key Words: interpersonal perception • marital conflict • marital satisfaction

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