Abstract

Data on misunderstandings occurring in intimate relations were obtained through interviews of 34 persons(24 college students and 10 office workers). The most frequently, misunderstanding due to a different assignment of the partner's behavior among internal causes between the misunderstander and the partner(as seen by the misunderstander) were much more frequent than the misunderstanding due to a difference in the locus of attribution(internal/external). The partner's behavior with positive or neutral intentions was misperceived as showing negative affects or evaluations toward self and less frequently as showing positive affects to a third person or negative intention directed to self, On rare instances, the misunderstanding involved a perception of romantic attraction on the part of the partner to self. Behaviors which instigate misunderstandings were generally negative behaviors directed to self and positive behaviors to a third person. Displeasure, anger, injured self-esteem, and sense of being betrayed were commonly reported affective responses accompanying misunderstanding. The misunderstandings involving a perception of negative intentions were most quick to be recognized by the person, whereas the misunderstandings involving positive affections were recognized by the person more slowly. Implications and suggestions for subsequent research were discussed.