Stability and Change in Relationships

Understanding interpersonal relationships requires understanding actors, behaviors, and contexts. This 2002 volume presents research from a variety of disciplines that examine personal relationships on all three levels. The first section focuses on the factors that influence individuals to enter, maintain, and dissolve relationships. The second section emphasizes ongoing processes that characterize relationships and focuses on issues such as arguing and sacrificing. The third and final section demonstrates that the process of stability and change are embedded in social, cultural, and historical contexts. Chapters address cultural universals as well as cross-cultural differences in relationship behaviors and outcomes. The emergence of relational forms, such as the interaction between people and computers, is also explored. Stability and Change in Relationships will be of interest to a broad range of fields, including psychology, sociology, communications, gerontology, and counselling.

Part I. Actors: The Scaffolding of Stability and Change: 1. Change in relationship knowledge representations Paula R. Pietromonaco, Jean-Philippe Laurenceau and Lisa Feldman Barrett; 2. Personality effects on personal relationships over the life span Jens B. Asendorpf; 3. An intergenerational model of romantic relationship development Chalandra M. Bryant and Rand D. Conger; 4. How relationships begin and end: a genetic perspective David T. Lykken; Part II. Behaviors: The Processes of Stability and Change: 5. Serial arguing over the relational life course: antecedents and consequences Michael E. Roloff and Kristen Linnea Johnson; 6. Communication, relationships concerns, and satisfaction in early marriage Patricia Noller and Judith A. Feeney; 7. Sacrifice in romantic relationships: an exploration of relevant research and theory Sarah Whitton, Scott Stanley and Howard Markman; 8. Stability and change in social relations: perspectives from gerontology and stress research David A. Chiriboga; 9. What microanalysis of behavior in social situations can reveal about relationships across the life span Rebecca M. Warner; 10. Developing a multifaceted view of change in relationships Ronald D. Rogge and Thomas N. Bradbury; Part III. Contexts: The Social Environment for Stability and Change: 11. Social networks and change in personal relationships Susan Sprecher, Diane Felmlee, Terri L. Orbuch and Marion C. Willetts; 12. Creating a context for change: integrative couple therapy Jennifer Wheeler and Andrew Christensen; 13. Passionate love and sexual desire: cultural and historical perspectives Elaine Hatfield and Richard L. Rapson; 14. Rules for responsive robots: using human interactions to build virtual interactions Joseph N. Cappella and Catherine Pelachaud.

This 2002 volume examines stability and change in personal relationships. The first section of the book includes chapters that describe the 'scaffolding' of stability and change. The second section emphasizes ongoing processes that characterize relationships. Finally the volume describes the influences of social environments on stability and change in relationships.