Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-20T18:02:50.587Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Defining Romantic Self-Sabotage: A Thematic Analysis of Interviews With Practising Psychologists

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 July 2019

Raquel Peel Open the ORCID record for Raquel Peel [Opens in a new window] ,
Nerina Caltabiano ,
Beryl Buckby  and
Kerry McBain
Raquel Peel*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology & Counselling, University of Southern Queensland, Sydney, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Nerina Caltabiano
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Beryl Buckby
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Kerry McBain
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Raquel Peel, School of Psychology & Counselling, University of Southern Queensland, 11 Salisbury Road, Ipswich, QLD 4305, Australia. Email: raquel.peel@usq.edu.au
Get access

Abstract

The term ‘self-sabotage’ is not well defined in the current literature. Self-sabotage is generally explained as a synonym of self-handicapping, which does not fully encompass intrinsic behaviours found in romantic relationships. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the theme of self-sabotage as viewed by practising psychologists. A series of 15 semistructured interviews with psychologists specialising in romantic relationships around Australia identified the main issues contributing to self-sabotage in romantic relationships and the reason why it might happen. Future studies will need to be conducted to develop a scale to empirically test self-sabotage in romantic relationships.

Keywords

self-sabotageself-handicappingromantic relationshipsthematic analysis
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 10 , 2019 , e16
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arndt, J., Schimel, J., Greenberg, J., & Pyszczynski, T. (2002). The intrinsic self and defensiveness: Evidence that activating the intrinsic self reduces self-handicapping and conformity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28, 671–683.Google Scholar
Ayduk, O., Downey, G., & Kim, M. (2001). Rejection sensitivity and depressive symptoms in women. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 868–877.Google Scholar
Berglas, S., & Jones, E.E. (1978). Drug choice as a self-handicapping strategy in response to noncontingent success. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 36, 405–417.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss (2nd ed., vol. I, Attachment). New York, NY: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss (vol. II, Separation Anxiety and Anger). New York, NY: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss (vol. III, Loss Sadness and Depression). New York, NY: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101.Google Scholar
Cavallo, J.V., Fitzsimons, G.M., & Holmes, J.G. (2010). When self-protection overreaches: Relationship-specific threat activates domain-general avoidance motivation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 46, 1–8.Google Scholar
Collins, N.L., Ford, M.B., Guichard, A.C., & Allard, L.M. (2006). Working models of attachment and attribution processes in intimate relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 201–219.Google Scholar
Corriero, E.F., & Tong, S.T. (2015). Managing uncertainty in mobile dating applications: Goals, concerns of use, and information seeking in Grindr. Mobile Media & Communication, 4, 121–141.Google Scholar
Creswell, J. (2014). Research design. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). California, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Descutner, C.J., & Thelen, M.H. (1991). Development and validation of a fear-of-intimacy scale. Psychological Assessment: A Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 3, 218–225.Google Scholar
Downey, G., & Feldman, S.I. (1996). Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 1327–1343.Google Scholar
Elliot, A.J., & Reis, H.T. (2003). Attachment and exploration in adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 317–331.Google Scholar
Feeney, J.A., & Noller, P. (1990). Attachment style as a predictor of adult romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 281–291.Google Scholar
Feick, D.L., & Rhodewalt, F. (1997). The double-edged sword of self-handicapping: Discounting, augmentation, and the protection and enhancement of self-esteem. Motivation and Emotion, 21, 147–163Google Scholar
Ferradás, M.M., Freire, C., Rodríguez-Martínez, S., & Piñeiro-Aguín, I. (2018). Profiles of self-handicapping and self-esteem, and its relationship with achievement goals. Anales De Psicología, 34, 545–554.Google Scholar
Fitzpatrick, C., & Birnholtz, J. (2017). ‘I shut the door’: Interactions, tensions, and negotiations from a location-based social app. New Media & Society, 20, 2469–2488.Google Scholar
Fossey, E., Harvey, C., McDermott, F., & Davidson, L. (2002). Understanding and evaluating qualitative research. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 36, 717–732.Google Scholar
Fraley, R.C., & Shaver, P.R. (2000). Adult romantic attachment: Theoretical developments, emerging controversies, and unanswered questions. Review of General Psychology, 4, 132–154.Google Scholar
Gottman, J.M., & Levenson, R.W. (1999). What predicts change in marital interaction over time? A study of alternative models. Family Process, 38, 143–158.Google Scholar
Gottman, J.M., & Levenson, R.W. (2002). A two-factor model for predicting when a couple will divorce: Exploratory analyses using 14-year longitudinal data. Family Process, 41, 83–96.Google Scholar
Greenberg, L., Warwar, S., & Malcolm, W. (2010). Emotion-focused couples therapy and the facilitation of forgiveness. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 36, 28–42.Google Scholar
Guest, G., MacQueen, K.M., & Namey, E.E. (2012). Applied thematic analysis. California, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Hall, J.A., Carter, S., Cody, M.J., & Albright, J.M. (2010). Individual differences in the communication of romantic interest: Development of the Flirting Styles Inventory. Communication Quarterly, 58, 365–393.Google Scholar
Harper, M.S., Dickson, J.W., & Welsh, D.P. (2006). Self-silencing and rejection sensitivity in adolescent romantic relationships. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 35, 435–443.Google Scholar
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511–524.Google Scholar
Hewitt, P.L., Flett, G.L., Sherry, S.B., Habke, M., Parkin, M., Lam, R.W., … Ediger, E. (2003). The interpersonal expression of perfection: Perfectionistic self-presentation and psychological distress. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 1303–1325.Google Scholar
Johnson, S., & Lebow, J. (2000). The ‘coming of age’ of couple therapy: A decade review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26, 23–38.Google Scholar
Jones, E.E., & Berglas, S. (1978). Control of attributions about the self through self-handicapping strategies: The appeal of alcohol and the role of underachievement. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 4, 200–206.Google Scholar
Kammrath, L.K., & Dweck, C. (2006). Voicing conflict: Preferred conflict strategies among incremental and entity theorists. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32, 1497–1508.Google Scholar
Knee, C.R. (1998). Implicit theories of relationships: Assessment and prediction of romantic relationship initiation, coping, and longevity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 360–370.Google Scholar
Knee, C.R., Patrick, H., Vietor, N.A., & Neighbors, C. (2004). Implicit theories of relationships: Moderators of the link between conflict and commitment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30, 617–628.Google Scholar
Le, B., Dove, N.L., Agnew, C.R., Korn, M.S., & Mutso, A.A. (2010). Predicting nonmarital romantic relationship dissolution: A meta-analytic synthesis. Personal Relationships, 17, 377–390.Google Scholar
Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Christensen, A., & Johnson, S.M. (2012). Research on the treatment of couple distress. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38, 145–168.Google Scholar
Locke, K.D. (2008). Attachment styles and interpersonal approach and avoidance goals in everyday couple interactions. Personal Relationships, 15, 359–374.Google Scholar
Martin, A.J., & Marsh, H.W. (2003). Fear of failure: Friend or foe? Australian Psychologist, 38, 31–38.Google Scholar
McLellan, E., MacQueen, K.M., & Neidig, J.L. (2003). Beyond the qualitative interview: Data preparation and transcription. Field Methods, 15, 63–84.Google Scholar
Mikulincer, M., Orbach, I., & Iavnieli, D. (1998). Adult attachment style and affect regulation: Strategic variations in subjective self-other similarity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 436–448.Google Scholar
Murray, S.L., Holmes, J.G., & Collins, N.L. (2006). Optimizing assurance: The risk regulation system in relationships. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 641–666.Google Scholar
Nowell, L.S., Norris, J.M., White, D.E., & Moules, N.J. (2017). Thematic analysis: Striving to meet the trustworthiness criteria. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16, 1–13.Google Scholar
Peel, R., Caltabiano, N., Buckby, B., & McBain, K.A. (2018). Mental health diagnoses and relationship breakdown: Which is the chicken and which the egg? International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, 4, 98–116.Google Scholar
Pietromonaco, P.R., & Barrett, L.F. (2000). The internal working models concept: What do we really know about the self in relation to others? Review of General Psychology, 4, 155–175Google Scholar
Post, R.D. (1988). Self-sabotage among successful women. Psychotherapy in Private Practice, 6, 191–205.Google Scholar
QSR International Pty Ltd. (2015). Nvivo 11Plus. Melbourne, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Rhodewalt, F. (1990). Self-handicappers. Individual differences in the preference for anticipatory self-protective acts. In Higgins, R.L., Snyder, C.R., & Berglas, S. (Eds.), Self-handicapping. The paradox that isn't (pp. 69–106). New York, NY: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Rhodewalt, F. (2008). Self-handicapping: On the self-perpetuating nature of defensive behavior. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2, 1255–1268.Google Scholar
Rom, E., & Mikulincer, . (2003). Attachment theory and group processes: The association between attachment style and group-related representations, goals, memories, and functioning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 1220.Google Scholar
Rusk, N., & Rothbaum, F. (2010). From stress to learning: Attachment theory meets goal orientation theory. Review of General Psychology, 14, 31–43.Google Scholar
Schwinger, M., Wirthwein, L., Lemmer, G., & Steinmayr, R. (2014). Academic self-handicapping and achievement: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 106, 744–761.Google Scholar
Shapiro, A.F., & Gottman, J.M. (2005). Effects on marriage of a psycho-communicative-educational intervention with couples undergoing the transition to parenthood, evaluation at 1-year post intervention. Journal of Family Communication, 5, 1–24.Google Scholar
Smith, T.W., Snyder, C.R., & Handelsman, M.M. (1982). On the self-serving function of an academic wooden leg: Test anxiety as a self-handicapping strategy. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 42, 314–321.Google Scholar
Strube, M.J. (1986). An analysis of the self-handicapping scale. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 7, 211–224.Google Scholar
Török, L., Szabó, Z.P., & Tóth, L. (2018). A critical review of the literature on academic self-handicapping: theory, manifestations, prevention and measurement. Social Psychology of Education, 21, 1175–1202.Google Scholar
Wei, M., & Ku, T.-Y. (2007). Testing a conceptual model of working through self-defeating patterns. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 295–305.Google Scholar
Wei, M., Russell, D.W., Mallinckrodt, B., & Vogel, D.L. (2007). The experiences in close relationship scale (ECR)-Short Form: Reliability, validity, and factor structure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 88, 187–204.Google Scholar
Weisskirch, R.S. (2017). Abilities in romantic relationships and well-being among emerging adults. Marriage & Family Review, 53, 36–47.Google Scholar
Whitty, M.T. (2008). Revealing the ‘real’ me, searching for the ‘actual’ you: Presentations of self on an internet dating site. Computers in Human Behavior, 24, 1707–1723.Google Scholar