The Expectations of Intimate Others' Behaviors Effect on the Cognition of Violations: Psychological Influences Caused by the Violations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the expectation–violation theory by specifically focusing on the expectations of intimate others' behaviors. We conducted two studies. In study 1, we developed the scale of expectations about intimate others' behaviors (SEIOB), and investigated its reliability and validity. Factor analysis revealed that SEIOB consisted of three factors: “expectations of emotional support behavior,” “expectations of reliant behavior,” and “expectations of transgressive behavior.” In addition, a certain level of reliability and validity was verified. In study 2, we tested the model of expectation–violation theory. Structural equation modeling revealed that expectations of emotional support behavior affected the cognition of violations positivity, and the cognition of violations positivity affected the expectations of separation. These results suggested that the model of expectation–violation theory could be replicated by utilizing SEIOB.