Relational mobility and the existence of enemyship

Previous studies showed that relational mobility affects people’s experiences in enemyship. Extending previous work, the present research examined the effect of relational mobility on the existence of enemyship. In a pilot study, participants from a university (N=31) were asked to recall personal conflict scenarios in their daily life, and indicate the extent to which they considered the person involved to be their enemy after the conflict. A marginally significant effect of perceived relational mobility in participants’ immediate social environment was found, in which a lower level of perceived relational mobility was associated with a greater likelihood of the existence of enemyship. In the main study, the level of environmental relational mobility was manipulated. Participants from a university (N=96) were presented with 21 personal conflict scenarios selected from the pilot study. They were asked to indicate the likelihood of the existence of enemyship in each personal conflict. The results showed that a higher level of perceived relational mobility induced by the manipulation of relational mobility was associated with a greater likelihood of the existence of enemyship. The results also showed a significant moderating effect of gender that the negative association between perceived relational mobility and perceived likelihood of the existence of enemyship was stronger among female participants. The results obtained in the two studies were not moderated by the level of tension perceived in the personal conflicts. The present research provided further evidence for the importance of socioecological factors in shaping people’s interpersonal relationships. Copyright © 2021 Asian Association of Social Psychology.