Romantic relationships and dependent personality characteristics: Examining the role of dependent personality characteristics in predicting manipulation and romantic jealousy

Dependent personality characteristics are described by submissive and passive-compliant behaviors that are stem from intensive need for support, approval and attention in addition to their fears of being abandoned and alone. Besides, it is propounded that individuals who have dependent personality characteristics might engage in manipulative strategies to fulfill their needs and to diminish the anxiety in romantic relationships, and they might display intensive jealousy responses when they perceive a potential threat to their relationship. The aim of this study is to examine the predictive roles of dependent personality characteristics and gender on manipulation and romantic jealousy in romantic relationships. The sample of the present study consists of 308 participants who have romantic relationship for at least three months and aged 18-50. The data were collected online via Dependent Personality Subscale of Personality Belief Questionnaire –Short Turkish Form, Manipulation in Human Relationship Scale and Multidimensional Jealousy Scale. The results of hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that being a male significantly predicted victim selection manipulation and cognitive jealousy while dependent personality characteristics positively and significantly predicted all types of manipulation and cognitive and behavioral dimensions of jealousy. Additionally, results indicated that victim selection manipulation levels of males were higher than females and dependent personality characteristics of females were higher than males. It is thought that the findings of this study make a contribution to the literature with regards to understand the relationship dynamics and determine their dysfunctional behavioral and cognitive romantic relationship patterns of individuals with dependent personality characteristics.