Love and Anger in Romantic
Relationships: A Discrete Systems Model
Bruce J. Ellis
University of Canterbury
Neil M. Malamuth
University of California, Los Angeles
ABSTRACT In a study of 124 dating couples, we tested a discrete systems
model of the functions of two emotion systems in romantic relationships: love
and anger/upset. This model posits that the operation of these systems reflects
adaptations shaped by natural selection to solve different adaptive problems.
Accordingly, we hypothesized that the love and anger/upset emotion systems
would be largely independent in the classes of information they track in romantic
relationships, in the psychological mechanisms that process that information,
and in the resultant behavior generated. Consistent with the discrete systems
model, and in contrast to a competing “crossover” model, differences across
relationships in feelings of love covaried with differences in strategic facilitation
but not in strategic interference by partners. Similarly, differences in feelings of
anger/upset during conflict covaried with differences in strategic interference but
not strategic facilitation. In turn, feelings of love predicted commitment-promoting
Bruce J. Ellis, Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury; Neil M. Malamuth,
Communication Studies Program and Psychology Department, University of California,
Los Angeles.
We are indebted to Ken Dodge and Tim Ketelaar, for comments on an earlier draft of
this manuscript, and to Bobby Laird, for statistical consultation. Bruce Ellis was supported in part by a training grant from the National Institute of Mental Health
(T32-MH18921-08).
Correspondence should be addressed to Bruce J. Ellis, Department of Psychology,
University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. E-mail:
b.ellis@psyc.canterbury.ac.nz
Journal of Personality 68:3, June 2000.
Copyright © 2000 by Blackwell Publishers, 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA,
and 108 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JF, UK.