RESEARCH_FILE
Christine E. Rittenour
West Virginia University
Known for:Communication research on the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, including shared family identity and attribution patterns
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“I'm competing with his mother”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“His being close with his mother does not erase my place with him.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Open a note and list three recent moments that triggered the thought, then beside each one write only: “What I saw,” “What I assumed,” and “What I actually need.” Keep it private and stop at three.
Key findings
- 2009
With Jordan Soliz, Rittenour found that supportive communication and self-disclosure between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law predicted a stronger shared family identity and better relational outcomes, while dismissing the other's communication style predicted worse ones. Communicative and Relational Dimensions of Shared Family Identity and Relational Intentions in Mother-in-Law/Daughter-in-Law Relationships ↗
- 2015
With Jody Koenig Kellas, Rittenour found that daughters-in-law's attributions for a mother-in-law's hurtful message — blaming her fixed character versus the circumstances — predicted relationship satisfaction more strongly than the objective severity of the message. Making Sense of Hurtful Mother-in-law Messages: Applying Attribution Theory to the In-Law Triad ↗