Resumen de The use of imagined interactions to manage relational uncertainty

Martijn J. Van Kelegom, Courtney N. Wright

• The specific processes through which people manage relational uncertainty are not fully understood. Imagined interactions were hypothesized as a cognitive process associated with experiencing relational uncertainty following a conversation with the partner. An online survey of 177 undergraduates examined the association between three types of relational uncertainty (self, partner, and relationship) and the attributes and functions of imagined interactions. Results revealed negative associations between relationship uncertainty and the valence attribute and the catharsis function, as well as a positive association between self-uncertainty and the conflict management function. Canonical correlation analyses revealed relational uncertainty was associated with the functions of conflict management, catharsis, relational maintenance, and compensation. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.