The Michelangelo Phenomenon

By C. Rusbult, Eli J. Finkel, M. Kumashiro. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2009

183 citations recorded by the source corpus.

This paper reviews theory and research regarding the “Michelangelo phenomenon.” The Michelangelo model suggests that close partners sculpt one another's selves, shaping one another's skills and traits and promoting versus inhibiting one another's goal pursuits. As a result of the manner in which partners perceive and behave toward one another, each person enjoys greater or lesser success at attaining his or her ideal-self goals. Affirmation of one another's ideal-self goals yields diverse benefits, both personal and relational. The Michelangelo model and supportive empirical evidence are reviewed, the phenomenon is distinguished from related interpersonal processes, and directions for future work are outlined.

Subfields: Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/9f1cf1b3a7c8388551bdf4ae2ca9a06cbdd436e3

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Citations in the corpus

New Look at Social Support: A Theoretical Perspective on Thriving through Relationships (2014, background): “…that personal goal strivings motivated by one’s close relationships predicts goal attainment and well-being (Gore & Cross, 2006, 2010), and that a romantic partner’s behavioral affirmation of one’s ideal self helps individuals move closer to their ideal selves over time (Rusbult et al., 2009).”
Good News! Capitalizing on Positive Events in an Interpersonal Context (2010, background): “…and because interdependence usually connotes at least some receptivity to influence by the other, a partner’s recognition and encouragement of goal-related activities affects how well a person can pursue personal goals (and thereby individual and relational well-being; Rusbult et al., 2009).”
Interpersonal Influences on Self-Regulation (2010, unknown): “Monitoring the other's progress—and shaping the other's self-efficacy beliefs—may be one mechanism through which partners encourage individuals to move toward their ideal selves (Rusbult et al., 2009).”
Toward understanding understanding : The importance of feeling understood in relationships (2017, unknown): “…or obstructionary, a prediction that has at least two components: believing that partners comprehend one's goals and priorities (feeling understood) and believing that they are able and willing to provide appropriate support (called behavioral affirmation by Rusbult, Finkel, & Kumashiro, 2009).”
When People Serve as Means to Goals (2016, background): “People should also enjoy being recognized for striving to attain their ideal self (Rusbult et al., 2009).”
The Suffocation of Marriage: Climbing Mount Maslow Without Enough Oxygen (2014, background): “From this perspective, the suffocation model derives from, and contributes to, the burgeoning social-psychological literature investigating the links between social processes and personal goal pursuit (e.g., Feeney, 2004, 2007; Finkel & Fitzsimons, 2011; Fitzsimons, Finkel, & vanDellen, 2014; Rusbul”