ABSTRACT
There are few certainties in life. But one certainty is that romantic partners are not perfect despite our tendency to idealize them (e.g., Murray, Holmes, & Griffith, 1996); it is a rare person who does not, at some point, feel hurt, let down, betrayed, disappointed, or wronged by his or her relationship partner. Such events have the potential to corrode, disrupt, and even end relationships. Understanding how partners react to them is therefore fundamental to understanding how relationships are maintained. Romantic relationships may also provide a context for devastating emotional wounds that may initially seem to be beyond repair. Such wounds either end the relationship, change it forever, or are overcome through processes that remain little discussed by marital researchers. How is it that some partners are able to overcome hurt prompted by a negative partner behavior and resume positive interactions whereas others remain hurt and engaged in negative interactions or even avoidance of the partner?
