The role of efficacy and outcome expectations in the decision to withhold relational complaints

A growing body of research demonstrates that intimates do not always confront their partners with grievances. Although useful, the extant research has not looked to the fundamental, goal-oriented nature of confrontation for factors that explain why intimates are unwilling to confront their partners. This study examines the extent to which an individual's outcome expectations (i.e., confidence that a given behavior will yield a particular outcome) and efficacy expectations (i.e., confidence that he or she can enact the relevant behavior) predict the likelihood that a confrontation will take place.