In plain words
Expectation violation is the gap between what you expected and what happened. In birth, it can be a labor that went differently from your plan. In parenthood, it can be how your baby feeds, sleeps, or cries. In a partnership, it can be how much help came after the baby arrived. Research describes that a big gap can feel like a loss, even when the outcome is safe. Many mothers feel grief, anger, or guilt about it. Some mothers find that talking it through with a partner, a , or a therapist helps. Feelings that are heavy or last for weeks are worth mentioning to a provider.
The deeper version
Expectation violation theory, developed in communication research by Burgoon (1993), holds that outcomes that depart from expectations generate arousal and reappraisal, with valence depending on the direction and meaning of the departure. In childbirth research, a discrepancy between planned and actual birth is associated with postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms and lower childbirth self-efficacy, in cohorts such as Ayers and Pickering (2001). The concept is used descriptively; causal pathways are not settled, and studies vary in how expectations are measured. Some work treats the mismatch as a moderator of distress rather than a direct cause.
Where it comes up
- Writing a birth plan that actually helpsGetting Ready for Birth
- Your relationship after the babyPostpartum: Mind
- Telling your birth storyBirth and the First Days
- When birth didn't go to planBirth and the First Days
What mothers here say about expectation violation
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Burgoon JK — Interpersonal expectations, expectancy violations, and emotional communication. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 1993
- Ayers S, Pickering AD — Do women who experience childbirth-related PTSD have higher expectations? Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 2001