HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 13, 2015 – While the characters in a popular Taylor Swift song are never ever getting back together, research by a High Point University professor shows that some romantic partners are more likely to reunite.
Dr. Sadie Leder Elder, assistant professor of psychology, presented the research, titled “Emotional Responses to Break-up Predict Who Will Rekindle vs. Stay Apart,” at the annual Society of Southeastern Social Psychologists conference on Oct. 24.
Elder conducted two studies asking participants who had experienced a romantic break-up details about how their relationship ended, factors that led to the break-up and their feelings at the time. They were also asked about whether they rekindled the relationship with their ex.
The results showed that partners who had more negative emotions and experienced greater hurt at the time of the break-up were more likely to rekindle their relationship.
“Interestingly, the presence of strong negative emotions, particularly hurt, may play a role in explaining why some people choose to reunite a failed romantic relationship,” Elder says. “Perhaps an intense break-up indicates that the potential for connection remains even after the relationship has ended. This, in turn, may drive partners to persist rather than abandon a previous romantic relationship.”