Although the two major research areas of the "Self" and "Social Relationships" have flourished, they have done so largely independently of each other. More and more research, however, has indicated that relationships shape the nature of the self and identity, and that self-views influence interpersonal processes and the manner in which people navigate their close relationships. The integration of research on self and social relationships has proved a particularly rich one, generating some of the most creative and insightful theories in psychology. The Self and Social Relationships is the first volume that marks, expedites, and defines this exciting new research synthesis. It serves both as a platform for authors to present their latest ideas on the topic and to encourage continued integration in this emerging field. The contributions represent a diverse set of perspectives from social/personality and clinical psychology. Each chapter covers a topic that is central to the study of self and relationships, and presents some of the most exciting research programs in the field. This volume is essential reading for researchers and students in the areas of both self and relationships.

This volume brings together leading investigators who integrate two distinct research domains in social psychology--people's internal worlds and their close relationships. Contributors present compelling findings on the bidirectional interplay between internal processes, such as self-esteem and self-regulation, and relationship processes, such as how positively partners view each other, whether they are dependent on each other, and the level of excitement in the relationship. Methodological challenges inherent in studying these complex issues are described in depth, as are implications for understanding broader aspects of psychological functioning and well-being.

The authors share what they have learned about social relationships over the course of years struggling with the effects of autism, identifying Ten Unwritten Rules as general guidelines for handling social situations.

Martijn van Zomeren develops 'selvations theory', and proposes that human motivation is based around changes in social relationships.

What is it that moves and motivates us in our lives? Martijn van Zomeren proposes that social relationships are at the essence of this key question and, in a fascinating investigation into human motivation, he develops a novel and integrative psychological theory termed 'selvations theory'. The theory suggests that we are essentially relational beings that seek to regulate relationships in response to felt changes in our network of relationships (selvations). However, we need to do this in culturally appropriate ways and this is where our culturally construed self comes to be of use. From Self to Social Relationships constitutes a powerful argument about human essence, integrating major theories in and around psychology, which has strong implications for the study and practice of social motivation.

`The team has achieved an admirable overall coherence in representing the range of ideas, methodologies and modes of analysis that will be found in this area of social life.... it is likely to find a place on the reading lists of many future social psychology courses' - Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology Relationships play a central part in people's lives, and a number of exciting interdisciplinary perspectives have recently emerged to shed new light on what it means to be in a relationship with another human being. This volume offers an authoritative yet accessible examination of a wide variety of these perspectives, drawing from a broader than usual range of material and including c

First Published in 2004. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.