Annotated Bibliography

Goodboy, A. K., & Bolkan, S. (2011). Attachment and the Use of Negative Relational
Maintenance Behaviors in Romantic Relationships. Communication Research
Reports, 28(4), 327-336. doi:10.1080/08824096.2011.616244

This study examines the link between attachment style and the use of negative relational
maintenance behaviors in romantic relationships. Participants were 232 adults who took part in a
questionnaire. The study suggests that those with the fearful-avoidant or dismissive attachment
style have a negative working model of others, and are thus more likely to engage in negative
relational maintenance behaviors. Preoccupieds too are likely to engage in such negative
maintenance behaviors due to their desire to be accepted. The urge to remain somewhat detached
from a relational partner would likely mean dismissive types engage in acts negative relational
maintenance to keep their distance. Fearful-avoidants too are likely to engage in negative
relational maintenance behaviors because they do not manage conflict well or communicate
positively. These hypotheses proved true after data from the questionnaires were collected and
analyzed.

Goodboy and Bolkans study was selected because, from what I have gathered from Weak
Communicators letter, Weak Communicator and their boyfriend are engaging in negative
relational maintenance behaviors. Whenever the two argue, they never completely resolve
conflict. They merely distance themselves from the other, and then act as if nothing happened.
Weak Communicator desires to fix this, but does not know how. I also hypothesize that either or

both participants in this relationship have negative attachment styles likely fearful-avoidant or
preoccupied (perhaps even dismissive). These attachment styles could be why the parties are
engaging in negative relational maintenance behaviors. Figuring out why they have the tendency
to behave in such ways is the first step to determining how they can best accommodate each
other for more relational satisfaction.

Hesse, C., Pauley, P. M., & Frye-Cox, N. E. (2015). Alexithymia and Marital Quality: The
Mediating Role of Relationship Maintenance Behaviors. Western Journal of
Communication, 79(1), 45-72. doi:10.1080/10570314.2014.943418

Alexithymia, as defined by the study, is a psychological construct where an individual is less

skilled at understanding and communicating emotions. Hesse and Frye-Coxs study sought to
determine the link between alexithymia and marital quality. Alexithymia has been linked to
feelings of loneliness, relational distrust, fewer intimate relationships, less relational satisfaction,
and less sexual satisfaction. The study examines the effect of actor and partner links between
alexithymia, relational maintenance behaviors, and marital quality. 143 married couples were
surveyed. The study concluded that alexithymic tendencies negatively affected perceived
relationship quality. Most interestingly, the study also concluded that actors alexithymic
tendencies negatively affected their own tendencies to engage in positive relational maintenance
behaviors.

This study was selected because Weak Communicator inadvertently admitted to having
alexithymic tendencies in their letter. They admit to being extremely uncomfortable talking about

their emotions, and say this tendency strongly influences their satisfaction in their relationship.
This study is important to Weak Communicators situation because it concretely determines that
alexithymic tendencies decrease the likelihood of positive relational maintenance behaviors. By
recognizing their alexithymic tendencies and noting how these tendencies often affect
relationships, Weak Communicator can begin to find ways to work past alexithymia.