Intended responses to romantic partners’ annoying behaviours vary with willpower beliefs

When a romantic partner behaves in an annoying way - for example, by leaving a mess - we might respond with frustration or understanding. Responses may vary with contextual factors, including whether the partner could be mentally fatigued or depleted. We hypothesized that limited willpower theorists - who believe self-control diminishes with use - might be especially likely to consider their partner's preceding mental exertion. Two preregistered studies (combinedN = 428) examined participants' responses to four hypothetical scenarios. Limited theorists responded more compassionately to infractions performed after fatiguing days than to those performed after relaxing days; non-limited theorists responded more consistently, regardless of context. Beliefs about one's own willpower, rather than beliefs about one's partner's willpower, can affect how people respond to their partner's undesirable behaviours.