Todd Chan

Title:
Modesty or secrecy: The costs of being modest in close relationships

Abstract:
Modesty is regarded positively in social life, yet how it is evaluated by the person toward whom the modest behavior is directed and how it functions in close relationships has seldom been examined. In ten studies, I examine how refraining from self-disclosure out of modesty concerns can result in negative consequences in close relationships, possibly because modest behavior violates relational and conversational norms unique to close relationships. Yet, modest individuals tend to (incorrectly) believe that their friends would react more positively if they discovered positive news about them through means other than disclosure. I discuss why despite the generally positive perceptions of modesty, being modest with close friends can decrease trust and liking in close relationships.

Zach Reese

Title:
Social comparison within romantic relationships: Consequences for self-esteem and relationship satisfaction

Abstract:
We regularly compare our skills and abilities to those of our romantic partners. How do these comparisons impact the way we feel about ourselves and our relationship? Do gender and closeness moderate how we respond to our romantic partners' relative achievements? In this talk, I describe four studies designed to investigate these questions.