Close Relationships

Welcome

This interdisciplinary text introduces the concepts, methodologies, theories, and empirical findings of interpersonal relationships drawn from psychology, communication, family studies, marriage and family therapy, social work, sociology, anthropology, health sciences, economics, and even philosophy and religion. In addition to reviewing romantic relationships, this book also highlights the importance of friendship and family. Numerous examples capture the reader’s attention by demonstrating how the material is relevant to their lives.

Active learning is encouraged throughout—each chapter includes an outline to guide students, key terms and definitions to help identify critical concepts, and exploration exercises to promote active thinking about the concepts. Many chapters also include measurement instruments that students can take and score themselves. Instructors appreciate the website which features a test bank with multiple-choice and essay questions and PowerPoints of chapter outlines and the book’s tables and figures.

This text distinguishes itself in several ways:

• Its focus on family members and friends as well as romantic partners.
• Its multidisciplinary perspective highlighting the contributions to the field from a number of disciplines.
• Its review of relationship experiences from all age groups, for all relationship types (heterosexual and homosexual), and from a variety of cultures.
• Its focus on methodology and research design with an emphasis on how to interpret empirical findings and engage in the research process.
• The inclusion of measurement instruments and scales for self-use or for research activities.
• Cutting-edge research on such topics as"cyber-flirting," sex differences in jealousy, the neurochemistry of love, and bullying.