What is self-expansion?

Self-expansion is a concept that refers to the process by which individuals enhance their sense of self through interactions and relationships with others. The self-expansion model, proposed by researchers Aron and Aron in 1986, suggests that people are motivated to enter relationships to enhance their self and increase self-efficacy, which refers to feeling good about oneself and feeling more capable. This model emphasizes that relationships, especially in their initial stages, can lead to increased feelings of pleasure, arousal, and excitement, all of which contribute to self-expansion. The interactions and the perception of how partners feel about each other play a significant role in this process.

In a study discussed by Andrew Huberman, couples were evaluated on their levels of self-expansion, and the results indicated that those with higher self-expansion were less likely to find alternative partners attractive. This links the concept of self-expansion to a decrease in the perception of attractiveness of others outside the relationship, suggesting that fulfilling relationships can enhance one's psychological and emotional well-being, affecting how they view potential alternative partners 1 2 3.