Cognitive Psychology Commons^™

Predicting An End To One's Relationship, Kenneth Tan, Smu Office Of Research

Research@SMU Infographics

Breakups happen from time to time, and research has shown that people who actively consider breaking up start taking steps to end the relationship. However, breakup decisions do not typically revolve around just one person. We tend to consider our partner’s thoughts and feelings too! In a paper by SMU Assistant Professor of Psychology Kenneth Tan and his co-researchers, they wondered if people also thought about whether their partners had plans to break up – also termed perceived partner dissolution consideration (PPDC). If so, how accurate are these perceptions?