## **Rationale and Hypotheses** ##
In Study 1 we found that romantic partners are fairly accurate in their perceptions of each other’s relational boredom, and that accuracy and bias are associated with differences in relationship quality, but the direction of the effects of bias differ for perceivers and their partners. The purpose of Study 2 is to replicate and extend the findings of Study 1. That is, given that whether and how relational boredom is detected and interpreted has the potential to influence relationship dynamics, we will examine the relation between accuracy and bias in perceptions of relational boredom and relationship quality.
In Study 1, we found a marginal tendency for participants to overestimate their partner's relational boredom, and we propose that this effect will be replicated in Study 2 (H1).
Also consistent with Study 1, we hypothesize that romantic partners will demonstrate tracking accuracy (H2) and project their own levels of relational boredom onto their perceptions of their romantic partner (assumed similarity; H3).
Additionally, similar to Study 1 we anticipate that bias and accuracy will be associated with relationship quality. In particular, we hypothesize that bias in judgments of relational boredom will be associated with relationship quality, but the effects will differ for perceivers and partners. We predict that for perceivers, underestimation (compared to overestimation) of the partner’s relational boredom will be associated with greater relationship quality (H4), whereas for partners, overestimation (compared to underestimation) of their boredom by perceivers will be associated with greater relationship quality (H5). Also consistent with Study 1, we propose that for both perceivers (H6) and partners (H7), accuracy will be associated with lower relationship quality than inaccuracy.
Finally, we will build upon the findings of Study 1 by examining potential mediators of the associations between bias and relationship quality. In particular, we propose that underestimation of one’s partner’s boredom may act as a self-protective mechanism, as relational boredom is associated with a host of negative emotions (Harasymchuk & Fehr, 2010), and therefore perceiving a high level of relational boredom in your partner may be seen as a relationship threat. The lack of experience of threat associated with underestimation may in turn lead underestimation to be associated with higher relationship quality for perceivers. We therefore believe that relationship security will mediate the association between bias and relationship quality, such that underestimation will be associated with greater relationship security, and greater security will be associated with greater perceiver relationship quality (H8).
Additionally, previous research has suggested that although boredom is unpleasant, it signals to individuals the need to take corrective action (Vodanovich, 2003). If the perceiver overestimates the boredom experienced by their partner, this perception of boredom may signal to the perceiver that they need to take corrective action in order to reduce the experiences of boredom by their partner and maintain the relationship. This corrective action by the perceiver may then make the partner feel more trust, satisfaction, and commitment. We therefore propose that greater use of boredom coping strategies will mediate the relationship between bias and relationship quality, such that overestimation will be associated with greater use of boredom coping strategies, and greater use of coping strategies will be associated with greater partner relationship quality (H9).
