Self-control and Sacrifice 1 Running Head: SELF-CONTROL AND SACRIFICE Low Self-control Promotes the Willingness to Sacrifice in Close Relationships

While previous theories and research suggest that human behavior is automatically driven by selfish impulses (e.g., vengeance rather than forgiveness), the present research tested the hypothesis that, in close relationships, people’s impulsive inclination is to be pro-social and to sacrifice for their partner—to pursue the partner’s or the relationship’s interest at some costs for the self. Four studies demonstrated that people with low, rather than high, self-control reported greater willingness to sacrifice for their close others. Furthermore, Study 4 demonstrated that communal orientation is more strongly associated with sacrifice among participants with low rather than high self-control. This moderational pattern supports the hypothesis that communal orientation functions as a default approach to sacrifice in close relationship contexts. Taken together, these findings suggest that, under certain crucial conditions in close relationships, gut-level impulses are more likely than deliberative considerations to promote pro-relationship behavior.