Principlev1
Respond to emotional bids (small implicit requests for
Respond to emotional bids (small implicit requests for connection) from others with high frequency, because the cumulative ratio of responses to bids predicts relationship outcomes more reliably than the quality of explicit conflict resolution.
Why This Is a Principle
Derives from Relational quality is primarily determined by the ratio of (turning-toward vs turning-away ratio determines relational quality), Emotional contagion is an automatic, pre-conscious (emotional contagion is automatic), and Humans have a deep, evolutionarily encoded need for (need for belonging as survival threat). Prescribes attending to small bids based on their cumulative relational impact.