Which of the following is listed as an influence on CL and CLalt?

• A. Personal experience
• B. Environment
• C. Self-esteem
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

The influences on CL and CLalt include personal experience, environment, and self-esteem, so all of these factors shape how you judge your current relationship against your expectations and against available alternatives. Personal experience sets your baseline for what rewards and costs feel typical, so it influences your standard for satisfaction (your CL). The environment affects what options you actually see or have access to, which shapes how attractive or feasible alternatives are (your CLalt) and what kinds of relationships are even considered possible. Self-esteem influences both sides of the evaluation: it colors how desirable a current partner seems and how capable you feel about pursuing other options or leaving if they don’t meet your standards. Because each element contributes to how you assess rewards, costs, and alternatives, they’re all relevant influences.