Broaching the subject of transitioning from a casual relationship to something more serious can be challenging and rife with potential identity threats. These interactions may result in rejection, may threaten one’s independence, and may threaten one’s desire to appear undemanding. This study asked participants to reflect on a time where either they or their casual sexual partner wanted to escalate the relationship into a more committed, romantic relationship. Initiators’ face concern was negatively related to the success of the escalation request, while targets’ perceptions of face management strategies were positively associated with escalation success. Directness was positively associated with escalation request success for targets, but only when face concern was low.

提出从随意的关系转变为更严肃的关系的主题可能具有挑战性，并且充满了潜在的身份威胁。这些互动可能会导致拒绝，可能威胁到一个人的独立性，并可能威胁到一个人表现得不那么挑剔的愿望。这项研究要求参与者反思他们或他们的临时性伴侣想要将关系升级为更加忠诚、浪漫的关系的时期。发起者的面子问题与升级请求的成功呈负相关，而目标者对面子管理策略的看法与升级成功呈正相关。直接性与目标的升级请求成功呈正相关，但仅限于面子问题较低时。