Communicatively remembering turning points of relational development in heterosexual romantic relationships

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which romantic partners communicatively remember their relationship's developmental turning points, as identified using the Retrospective Interview Technique. Partners were asked to indicate which turning points were featured in five forms of dyadic traditions: commemorations/celebrations, reminiscences, storytelling to third parties, idiomatic communication, and mementos. Overall, reminiscences between relational partners and third‐party storytelling to social network members emerged as the most frequently reported ways in which turning points were communicatively remembered. The turning points of quality time, passion, get‐to‐know time, and exclusivity were most likely to be communicatively remembered through multiple kinds of dyadic traditions. Couple satisfaction correlated positively with the proportion of agreed‐upon turning points that were communicatively remembered through at least one dyadic tradition.

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