Responding to Positive News
Research suggests that one important factor when trying to build a positive relationship is to capitalise by sharing the positive news in your life with the other person. This is a strategy that we looked at previously when we looked at savouring. Capitalising has been shown to enhance the experience of positive events in life (Langston, 1994).
As well as capitalising, the way that we respond when positive news is shared within a relationship can have a big impact. Research suggests there are 4 main response styles; active constructive, passive constructive, active destructive and passive destructive. Results showed that only one of them actually helps to build relationships and that is active constructive. Active constructive responses were positively correlated with commitment, satisfaction, intimacy, trust and overall better relationship quality. It is worth noting that the research looked at romantic relationships, however, it has been applied to a broader context to include any relationship. We will look at active, constructive responding in more detail in the next lesson.
To learn more about about other ways in which you can foster positive relationships do some of our courses which you can access via the main courses page.
These include:
- Recovery: The New Me (Connectedness
- section).Dealing with Other People.
- 5 Ways to Wellbeing (Connect section).
- Meaningful Communication.
You might want to make notes at this point. These may help you remember things, work out what you want or see how much you’ve changed if you read them again in a few years’ time.