Psychology Today November/December 2021 pp48-49 “Does Your Partner Truly Care?” “How to gauge responsiveness and sensitivity in your partner” By Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D.
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Summary by 2244
The author of this article, Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., cites work by Dev Crasta and colleagues in Canandaigua, New York (Veteran’s Affairs). They developed a test to evaluate both partner responsiveness and insensitivity as “this is the process through which you and your partner react in supportive ways…” “Couples with high levels of…responsiveness are more likely to engage in self-disclosure, allow their emotional vulnerability to show and communicate greater levels of gratitude, trust and support toward each other.”
The test is scored on 15 items, the first eight about responsiveness and the remaining seven about insensitivity. The scale is (0) not at all to (5) completely. In Crasta’s study study participants had most responsiveness scores between 2.4 and 4.7 with an average “slightly over 3.5.” Most insensitivity scores ranged between 0 and 2 with an average “just under 1.”
“In general…people scoring well…were more likely to be satisfied in their relationship, to feel their partner was emotionally supportive, and to rate as lower any hostile behaviors by their partner during times of conflict.”
Fill in the blank with a current or past partner’s name
Blank really listens to me
Blank seems interested in what I am thinking and saying
Blank is understanding
Blank tries to see where I’m coming from
Blank is attentive to my needs
Blank is responsive to my needs
Blank takes my concerns seriously
Blank really gets my point of view
Blank does not accept my feelings and concerns
Blank dismisses my concerns too easily
Blank sees to ignore the things that are more important to me
Blank does not really understand my wants and needs
Blank does not really take my concerns seriously
Blank often really does not hear what I am saying
When I’m feeling worried or stressed about something, it only makes things worse to tell blank about it