Which statement best describes relationship satisfaction, relationship stability, and their relation to commitment?

• A. Satisfaction is a current affective evaluation; stability is the likelihood of staying together; commitment integrates and sustains both.
• B. Satisfaction is a future projection; stability is the present mood; commitment ignores both.
• C. Satisfaction equals stability; commitment is the same as satisfaction.
• D. Stability is irrelevant to commitment.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how satisfaction, stability, and commitment work together to describe how couples feel and behave over time. Satisfaction is a current affective evaluation—how happy or content you feel about the relationship right now. Stability refers to the likelihood that the couple will stay together in the future. Commitment is the motivational force that integrates and sustains both: it provides a long-term orientation that helps couples invest in the relationship, work through problems, and remain together even when satisfaction dips. This combination explains not only current feelings but also future staying power.

The best description, then, is that satisfaction is a current mood or evaluation, stability is the probability of staying together, and commitment binds and maintains both, keeping the relationship moving forward over time. The other explanations miscast satisfaction as a future projection, equate satisfaction with stability, imply commitment ignores these facets, or say stability isn’t relevant to commitment.