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The Developmental Course of Romantic Relationships

By Brian G. Ogolsky, Sally A. Lloyd, Rodney M. Cate

To Be Published May 13th 2013 by Routledge Academic – 224 pages

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    Description

    This multidisciplinary text highlights the development of romantic relationships, from initiation to commitment or demise, by highlighting the historical context, current research and theory, and diversity of patterns. Engagingly written with colorful examples, the authors examine the joy, stress, power-struggles, intimacy, and aggression that characterize these relationships. Readers gain a better understanding as to why, even after the pain and suffering associated with a breakup, most of us go right back out and start again. Relationships are examined through an interdisciplinary lens –psychological, sociological, environmental and communicative perspectives are all considered. End of chapter summaries, lists of key concepts, and additional readings serve as a review. As a whole the book explores what precipitates success or failure of these relationships and how this has changed over time.

    Highlights of the book’s coverage:

    Incorporates both cross-sex and same-sex romantic relationships

    Examines the roles of gender, race, class, culture, age, and sexuality in relationship development

    Looks at multiple types of romantic relationships in emerging adulthood, including dating and cohabitation

    Explores both positive and negative relational processes

    Analyzes the latest and most important scholarship.

    The book opens with an introduction followed by a historical overview of the development of relationships. Next relationship development models are examined including the influence of social factors and the interaction of the partners involved. This volume examines how partners initiate romantic relationships, including infatuation, sexual attraction, and the impact of technology; how cohabitation affects the quality of the future of the relationship; and the individual, social, and circumstantial factors that predict stability or break-ups in romantic relationships. The book ends with an examination of the “dark side” of relationships, and suggestions for future research on romantic pairings.

    Intended as a supplement for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses in marriage and family, personal/close/intimate relationships, or interpersonal/family communication taught in human development and family studies, psychology, social work, sociology, communication, counseling and therapy, this book also appeals to researchers and practitioners interested in the romantic relationship processes.

    Reviews

    “It gives an engaging, accurate, well-documented introduction to the … history of … partnership. It does a very good job of showing both change and continuity. … The writing is good, clear, scholarly writing that is still accessible to college students.” – Thomas B. Holman, Brigham Young University, USA

    “The … strengths of the book are its sole focus on courtship, its attention to same-sex relationships, and the potential for the book to consider numerous contexts that affect, and are affected by, courtship processes. … The authors write very clearly. … It would be appropriate for advanced undergraduates … graduate students, and other scholars who want current information in the area of courtship. … When I teach Interpersonal Relationships, I would seriously consider adopting this book.” – Mark A. Fine, University of Missouri – Columbia, USA

    “The chapter was well-written and engaging to the reader, and should retain the interest of students. … The book fills a gap in the literature. … It would make a great supplementary text in sociology of marriage and family courses, family study courses on dating and courtship, and/or personal relationships courses. … I would give serious consideration to adopting the book.” – Susan Sprecher, Illinois State University, USA

    Contents

    1. Introduction. 2. The History of Romantic Partnering. 3. Theories and Models of Romantic Partnering. 4. Romantic Relationship Initiation and Development. 5. Cohabitation. 6. The Stability of Romantic Relationships: Processes of Maintenance and Dissolution. 7. Violence in Romantic Partnerships. 8. Future Directions in Relationship Research.

    Author Bio

    Brian G. Ogolsky is an Assistant Professor of Human and Community Development at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

    Sally A. Lloyd is Professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Miami University.

    Rodney M. Cate is Professor Emeritus of family studies and human development at the University of Arizona.

    Name: The Developmental Course of Romantic Relationships (Paperback) – Routledge Academic 
    Description: By Brian G. Ogolsky, Sally A. Lloyd, Rodney M. Cate. This multidisciplinary text highlights the development of romantic relationships, from initiation to commitment or demise, by highlighting the historical context, current research and theory, and diversity of patterns. Engagingly written with colorful...
    Categories: Parenting and Families, Interpersonal Processes & Communication, Interpersonal Communication