With other researchers, I set out to determine the fundamental psychological characteristics of romantic relationships. We started by asking hundreds of adults to give us (anonymously) eight terms that describe their romantic relationship. We boiled those terms down to 75 that were named by at least 5% of the study participants. We then asked hundreds of other adults to rate their romantic relationship on the 75 terms. Using factor analysis (a statistical method of finding underlying factors in a big group of items), we identified four factors: how secure the relationship is, how caring, how exciting, and how stressful. We chose the best items to form a nine-item scale for each factor and then found that scores on the scales correlated with relationship satisfaction and with positive feelings in general. We also found that the longer the person had been in the relationship, the lower the level of excitement and the higher the level of security. Subsequent studies with couples showed that higher excitement scores were associated with less inclination to take actions in the direction of infidelity.
Want to rate your own romantic relationship? I will put below the items for each scale of the Four- Factor Romantic Relationship Scales. To calculate a scale score, sum the ratings for the scale. Below the scales I will describe the average scores we found for each scale.
Choose a number from the following 7-point scale to indicate to what extent your relationship has each characteristic listed below.
1 = disagree strongly, 2 = moderately disagree, 3 = slightly disagree, 4 = neither agree nor disagree, 5 = slightly agree, 6 = moderately agree, 7 = agree strongly
SECURE SCALE
Committed
Loyal
Secure
Strong
Trusting
Stable
Honest
Bonded
Partnership
EXCITING SCALE
Exciting
Passionate
Adventurous
Interesting
Playful
Sexual
Spontaneous
Boring (reverse score, e.g., change a 1 to 7; change a 6 to 2)
Romantic
CARING SCALE
Kind
Compassionate
Considerate
Caring
Giving
Understanding
Warm
Sharing
Helpful
STRESSFUL SCALE
Difficult
Stressful
Frustrating
Hard work
Challenging
Annoying
Rocky
Argumentative
Sad
The average scores for the four scales in a sample of 530 adults:
Secure: 54 (2/3 of scores between 44 and 64)
Exciting: 46 (2/3 of scores between 36 and 47)
Caring: 52 (2/3 of scores between 42 and 52)
Stressful: 30 (2/3 of scores between 18 and 42)
In our research we put all 36 items in alphabetical order and did not mention scale names. Your responses may be biased by the scale names and the information provided above about the scales.
How do the scores for your relationship compare with the sample scores? Which of the four characteristics do you consider best about your relationship? Which would you like to change?
Our first research article about the scales was:
Malouff, J., Coulter, K., Receveur, H., Martin, K., James, P., Gilbert, S., Schutte, N., Hall, L., & Elkowitz, J. (2012). Development and initial validation of a four-factor measure of romantic relationships. Current Psychology, 31, 349-364.
John Malouff, PhD, JD, Assoc Prof of Psychology
What worries me is that no one has commented on this blog post. Hmmm … all joking and conspiracy aside, this is a great tool. I used to study/work with a couple of psychologists (David Jansen & Margaret Newman) who ran a program called “The Marriage School” which seemed a bit silly to my 22 year old self, but boy, when you looked at it, it was golden. This tool would find a place in any pre-marriage counselling kit. As to my scores, just where I’d want them!
Hi Michael. I am always happy to learn of someone using my work. I am still doing research on romantic relationships.