TY - JOUR
T1 - Language style matching predicts relationship initiation and stability
AU - Ireland, Molly E.
AU - Slatcher, Richard B.
AU - Eastwick, Paul W.
AU - Scissors, Lauren E.
AU - Finkel, Eli J.
AU - Pennebaker, James W.
N1 - Funding Information:
Preparation of this manuscript was funded, in part, by the Army Research Institute (W91WAW-07-C-0029), the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (Z934002), and the National Science Foundation (NSCC-0904822).
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Previous relationship research has largely ignored the importance of similarity in how people talk with one another. Using natural language samples, we investigated whether similarity in dyads' use of function words, called language style matching (LSM), predicts outcomes for romantic relationships. In Study 1, greater LSM in transcripts of 40 speed dates predicted increased likelihood of mutual romantic interest (odds ratio = 3.05). Overall, 33.3% of pairs with LSM above the median mutually desired future contact, compared with 9.1% of pairs with LSM at or below the median. In Study 2, LSM in 86 couples' instant messages positively predicted relationship stability at a 3-month follow-up (odds ratio = 1.95). Specifically, 76.7% of couples with LSM greater than the median were still dating at the follow-up, compared with 53.5% of couples with LSM at or below the median. LSM appears to reflect implicit interpersonal processes central to romantic relationships.
AB - Previous relationship research has largely ignored the importance of similarity in how people talk with one another. Using natural language samples, we investigated whether similarity in dyads' use of function words, called language style matching (LSM), predicts outcomes for romantic relationships. In Study 1, greater LSM in transcripts of 40 speed dates predicted increased likelihood of mutual romantic interest (odds ratio = 3.05). Overall, 33.3% of pairs with LSM above the median mutually desired future contact, compared with 9.1% of pairs with LSM at or below the median. In Study 2, LSM in 86 couples' instant messages positively predicted relationship stability at a 3-month follow-up (odds ratio = 1.95). Specifically, 76.7% of couples with LSM greater than the median were still dating at the follow-up, compared with 53.5% of couples with LSM at or below the median. LSM appears to reflect implicit interpersonal processes central to romantic relationships.
KW - LIWC
KW - dyads
KW - language
KW - relationship stability
KW - romantic relationships
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78951479093&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0956797610392928
DO - 10.1177/0956797610392928
M3 - Article
C2 - 21149854
AN - SCOPUS:78951479093
VL - 22
SP - 39
EP - 44
JO - Psychological Science
JF - Psychological Science
SN - 0956-7976
IS - 1
ER -