Perceived authenticity in romantic partners

The notion of authenticity, or a state of being in which oneʹs behavior is motivated by genuine, internal forces, has long been of interest to philosophers and social thinkers. Previous research on authenticity has examined the association between an individualʹs self-reported evaluations of his/her own authenticity and measures of well-being or relationship quality. The present work provides a new perspective by casting light on an interpersonal aspect the construct, namely, the extent to which an individual believes his or her romantic partner is authentic. Using correlational and experimental methods in a sample of dating and married couples, the present work found strong associations between perceived partner authenticity, relationship goals, interpersonal trust, and relationship outcomes.