Positive illusion in romantic relationships and its correlation with relationship satisfaction, quality and stability

The study has been conducted in order to explore the existence of positive illusion in romantic relationships and to research the nature of its correlation with the indicators of relationship achievement: relationship satisfaction, relationship quality assessment and relationship stability appraisal. The participants were 418 Croatian couples living together at least for a year (married or cohabitating). As hypothesized, the positive illusion in partner evaluation was found. It was manifested through overestimating partner's qualities on the Mate Value Inventory (MVI-7) in comparison to his own estimates on the same Inventory. Furthermore, the positive correlation between the degree of positive illusion and the three relationship achievement indicators was measured. The couples, whose members both idealized each other at some level, were found to be the most satisfied with the relationship and to give the highest ratings of the relationship quality and stability. They were followed by couples, where only one member idealized his partner. Finally, the couples, where none of the partners was in positive illusion about the other, were found to be least satisfied with the relationship and to give the lowest ratings of the relationship quality and stability.