心理学报2026，Vol.58Issue(2)：362-375,14.DOI:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.0362
说实话还是说好话?消费决策中伴侣反馈类型如何影响关系满意度
Be honest or tell a white lie?The impact of partner feedback in consumer decisions on relationship satisfaction
摘要
Abstract
In intimate relationships,feedback can play a significant role in shaping relationship satisfaction.However,when providing feedback,partners often face a dilemma:to be completely honest or to tell a"white lie"to protect their significant other's feelings.Previous research has explored the effects of honest feedback and white lies on relationships,but the role of feedback timing and product type remains underexplored.This study aims to address these gaps by examining how different types of feedback(brutal truth vs.white lies)regarding consumption decisions,the timing of feedback(before vs.after a purchase decision),and product types(hedonic vs.utilitarian)influence relationship satisfaction.The study also investigates how perceived partner support mediates these effects on relationship satisfaction. Four experiments were conducted to test the proposed hypotheses.Experiment 1a involved 210 participants and examined the effect of different types of partner feedback(brutal truth vs.white lies vs.no feedback)on relationship satisfaction,employing a single-factor between-subjects design.Experiment 1b involved 230 participants and explored the impact of different types of partner feedback(brutal truth vs.white lies vs.no feedback)×2(feedback timing:pre-decision vs.post-decision)on relationship satisfaction.Experiment 2 involved 272 participants and introduced feedback timing as a moderating variable,utilizing a 2(partner feedback:honest feedback vs.white lies)×2(feedback timing:pre-decision vs.post-decision)random assignment design.Experiment 3 included 550 participants and used a 2(partner feedback:brutal truth vs.white lies)×2(feedback timing:pre-decision vs.post-decision)×2(product type:hedonic vs.utilitarian)design. The results revealed several key findings:(1)When feedback timing is not considered,there is no significant difference between honest feedback and white lies,and both improve relationship satisfaction compared to no feedback.(2)The timing of feedback played an important role:honest feedback provided before decision making led to higher relationship satisfaction,while white lies provided after the decision enhanced satisfaction.(3)Perceived partner support mediates the effects of feedback type and timing on relationship satisfaction.(4)Product type moderated the effect of feedback:when the product was hedonic,there was no significant difference in satisfaction between receiving a white lie or honest feedback before the decision.However,for utilitarian products,honest feedback before the decision led to higher satisfaction than white lies.Whether for hedonic products or utilitarian products,white lies lead to higher relationship satisfaction in the post-decision period. This study contributes to the understanding of communication in intimate relationships,emphasizing the importance of feedback timing and type in determining relationship satisfaction.The findings suggest that feedback can enhance satisfaction,but its effectiveness depends on when it is given and the type of product involved.Perceived partner support plays a crucial role in mediating these effects.These insights have practical implications for relationship management,suggesting that partners should consider the timing and nature of feedback when making consumption decisions.Additionally,the research highlights the importance of understanding how different product types influence feedback dynamics,which could inform marketing strategies aimed at couples.关键词
善意谎言/反馈时机/感知伴侣支持/产品类型/伴侣关系满意度Key words
white lies/feedback timing/perceived partner support/product type/relationship satisfaction分类
社会科学引用本文复制引用
李世豪,张文悦,梁思萌,符国群..说实话还是说好话?消费决策中伴侣反馈类型如何影响关系满意度[J].心理学报,2026,58(2):362-375,14.基金项目
国家自然科学基金项目(72202036). （72202036）
