The Development of Willingness to Sacrifice and Unmitigated Communion in Intimate Partnerships

Abstract

Objective: This study examined developmental trajectories of willingness to sacrifice and unmitigated communion, or putting a partner's needs above one's own to the exclusion of the self. Background: Willingness to sacrifice and unmitigated communion have proven important for personal and relationship well-being, but no prior research has sought to understand their developmental trajectories or the factors that motivate growth in each. We draw from a relational developmental systems perspective to explore these questions. Method: Latent growth curve analyses of German Family Panel data from 3,405 focal participants and their partners surveyed across seven years were used to answer the research questions. Results: Findings revealed each construct followed a declining curvilinear pattern with much variability underlying average trajectories. Women, those with more prior partnerships, and those in longer-term relationships were less willing to sacrifice and had lower unmitigated communion at baseline. Participants were more willing to sacrifice when participants were more committed and more insecure in their partner's love. Unmitigated communion was higher when they were more committed, when they and their partners were happier with the union, and when household income was lower. Conclusion: Willingness to sacrifice and unmitigated communion develop in response to sociodemographics, personal history, and both partners' relationship cognitions.