Applying Self-Expansion Theory to Romantic Relationship Narratives: What are the Benefits?

This theoretical contribution discusses the benefits of applying self-expansion theory to romantic relationship narratives. Self-expansion theory posits that romantic partners add positive attributes to their self-concepts. Through the lens of the narrative identity approach, this contribution presents a new conceptualization to assess romantic partners’ self-expansion through their relationship stories. Two aspects are crucial: the sources of self-expansion and the type of self-expansion. First, the sources are defined as whether it is (a) the partner, (b) the partner’s support, or (c) shared activities with the partner that have expanded the self. Second, the types of self-expansion are (a) ideal self-attributes, (b) increased knowledge, and (c) increased capabilities: Ideal self means that the narrator describes having become a better person through the relationship experience (e.g., having become a more organized person). Increased knowledge means that the narrator describes having increased their self-understanding (e.g., increased insights into their emotions). Increased capabilities mean that the narrator describes the acquisition of practical outcomes (e.g., having learned how to cook). So far, self-expansion has been measured with Likert scales. The present contribution sets a new focus in that self-expansion is coded from relationship narratives, which allows to more comprehensively understand self-expansion in romantic relationships and its benefits for couples.