Which of the following best describes the pattern of conflict and negative affect reciprocity associated with poorer relationship outcomes?

• A. Emphasizing empathy and collaborative problem solving reduces negativity.
• B. Frequent unsolved conflicts and contempt; negative affect reciprocity is when each partner’s negative emotions provoke more negativity from the other, creating a cycle.
• C. A repair attempt always fixes issues immediately.
• D. Frequent resolved conflicts and mutual calm.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is negative affect reciprocity—the back-and-forth escalation of negativity between partners. When one person expresses negative emotions and the other responds with even more negativity, a cycle forms that often continues unless there is effective interruption. This pattern, especially when clashes are frequent and unresolved, tends to predict poorer relationship outcomes because it wears down trust, intimacy, and satisfaction over time.

Patterns like empathy and collaborative problem solving help reduce negativity and improve closeness, and a climate of frequent mutual calm with issues resolved is associated with healthier relationships. Repair attempts are beneficial but don’t guarantee immediate fixes, so describing them as always fixing issues right away doesn’t fit the pattern of persistent negative reciprocity linked to poorer outcomes.