The Use of Negative Behaviors to Maintain Relationships

Our goal was to uncover the negative behaviors that are used for relational maintenance purposes, using equity as a theoretical framework. Two data collections were undertaken. The first solicited potential negative maintenance behaviors. From these responses, scale items were created. Then, 151 individuals completed measures of positive and negative maintenance, equity, and satisfaction. Six negative maintenance behaviors emerged: allowing control, destructive conflict, spying, jealousy induction, avoidance, and infidelity. Results indicated mixed support for an equity theory explanation of positive and negative maintenance. However, as predicted, negative maintenance behaviors were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, and positive maintenance behaviors were positively associated with relationship satisfaction.