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148Chapter 8needs. Additionally, contexts where one parent undermines or does notsupport the other during parent-infant interactions might increase the likelihood of fearful temperament in the infant (Metz, Majdandžić, & Bögels,2018). Thus, despite the limited number of studies and the complex triadicrelationships, this preliminary evidence suggests that IIC affects bi-parentalcare, either directly or indirectly through marital satisfaction.Physiological levelWhile behavioral IIC has received ample attention over the last decades,recent years have revealed a dramatic increase interest for physiologicalsynchrony. Physiological synchrony is the co-activation and regulation ofphysiological processes, such as the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system (Mayo & Gordon, 2020; Palumbo et al., 2017). In humans,physiological synchrony might be beneficial in facilitating pair-bond formation, as it might blur the boundaries between the self and the other andaid in establishing a shared perspective. Despite limited evidence regarding physiological linkage in couples over time, recent research (Prochazkova,Sjak-Shie, Behrens, Lindh, & Kret, 2019) has shown that heart rate (HR)and electrodermal activity (EDA) synchrony might be associated with increased attraction to an opposite-sex stranger. In conclusion, preliminaryevidence suggests that physiological synchrony during courtship might influence its future prospects. However, more research is needed to investigatethis complex relationship, especially the causality.What do we know about physiological synchrony in couples? The different methodological and statistical approaches make this topic difficult toexamine (Timmons, Margolin, & Saxbe, 2015). The level of physiologicalsynchrony exhibited in a couple might be influenced by physical and emotional closeness (Freihart & Meston, 2019; Helm, Sbarra, & Ferrer, 2012).Therefore, it would be logical to assume that more linkage occurs in a longterm relationship. However, whether this increased physiological synchronyis beneficial for a long-term relationship remains heavily debated. Previous research has shown that perspective taking ability and physiologicalsynchrony are positively associated (Schoebi, 2008); which might supportthe notion that synchrony is beneficial in communication and consequentlymaintenance of a romantic bond.Accordingly, emotional responses seem to align in couples over time (Anderson, Keltner, & John, 2003). This pattern, however, is complex andrequires further empirical investigation (Sels et al., 2020). This is alsoreflected in studies on physiological synchrony. Studies focusing on thesympathetic nervous system (SNS), a measure of arousal, during conflictshave shown counterintuitive results. In their study, Levenson and Gottman(1983) showed that couples exhibiting more SNS synchrony during conflictsreported lower marital satisfaction. Similarly, a recent study demonstratedIliana Samara 17x24.indd 148 08-04-2024 16:36