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Deceptive Message Intent and Relational Quality

University of Wyoming

This study examines the popular belief that deception is necessary for maintaining relational quality. A total of 517 undergraduate students involved in close relationships served as research participants in this study. Eighty-nine participants were married, engaged, and/or living together, 200 were seriously dating, 100 were casually dating, and 128 were involved in close friendships. Members of relationships with low suspicion and high relational quality reported less use of deceptive messages and more use of other types of communication strategies to sustain their relationships than those in relationships with higher suspicion and lower relational quality. Additionally, lies told with the intent to protect a partner were related to higher suspicion levels in a relationship, as were lies told with the intent to benefit self or hurt a partner. Other types of messages designed to contribute to a positive relational environment were not strongly related to deceptive messages.

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