The Cambridge Handbook of Personal Relationships serves as a benchmark of the current state of scholarship in this dynamic field synthesizing the extant theoretical and empirical literature, tracing its historical roots, and making recommendations for future directions. The volume addresses a broad range of established and emerging topics including: theoretical and methodological issues that influence the study of personal relationships; research and theory on relationship development, the nature and functions of personal relationships across the lifespan; individual differences and their influences on relationships; relationship processes such as cognition, emotion, and communication; relational qualities such as satisfaction and commitment; environmental influences on personal relationships; and maintenance and repair of relationships. The authors are experts from a variety of disciplines including several subfields of psychology, communication, family studies and sociology who have made major contributions to the understanding of relationships.

Understanding Research in Personal Relationships is a comprehensive introduction to the key readings on human and close relationships. Organized into twelve thematic chapters with editorial commentary throughout, the editors offer a critical reading of the major research articles in the field of relationship studies published in the last few years. Scholarly papers, two per chapter, are presented in an abridged form and critiqued in a carefully structured way that instructs students on the way to read research, and to critically evaluate research in this field. The book, therefore, has a thoroughly didactic focus as the student is given historical, theoretical and methodological contexts to each article as well as an explanation of key terms and ideas.

The effort to understand personal relationships has traditionally focused on the individual characteristics of participants. Personal Relationships and Personal Networks takes this analysis a step further, focusing on research linking participants' feelings and actions within a given personal relationship to the larger social context surrounding it. Author Malcolm R. Parks expands on the idea that the initiation, development, maintenance, and dissolution of relationships are inextricably connected to each participant's social network-a perspective that allows for a better appreciation of our connection to the world, and a greater understanding our significant power as social actors. This book offers a new way to consider basic notions about how relationships form, such as how particular people meet, and how relationships are started. Among many findings, the volume demonstrates that individuals in relationships feel closer and generally more connected when they also have a greater amount of contact with the members of each other's personal networks and when they believe that network members support their relationship. Additional topics discussed include how this social context model is applicable to different types of relationships; how participants interact with network members; how social networks are involved in the deterioration of personal relationships; and what drives change in relationships. Students, researchers, and professionals in a wide variety of disciplines such as communication, psychology, sociology, anthropology, family studies, clinical psychology, public health nursing, education, and social work will find this book useful, as will anyone seeking to better understand their own personal relationships.

Understanding Personal Relationships introduces readers to the new interdisciplinary field of personal relationships. It does so by integrating central themes from the fields of social psychology, sociology, clinical psychology and family studies. In a comprehensive, bibliographic essay, the editors give an overview of the growth of the field and predict future areas of research and clinical practice. Early chapters deal with some of the theoretical issues in the study of personal relationships, while other contributors discuss the motivational issues in relationships. Five chapters examine specific types of relationships: those which are established (like marriage); those which are in a state of transition; those which are under stress; and those which have broken. Through its breadth of coverage and the presentation of writers from several different disciplines, this volume conveys the spirit of pioneering and practical optimism that characterizes the new interdisciplinary approach to understanding personal relationships.

`The main strengths of the book are its uniqueness... its mix of emphasis on methods, statistics, and ideas, its commentaries by the authors, and the well-chosen journal articles′ - John Harvey, University of Iowa Understanding Research in Personal Relationships is a comprehensive introduction to the key readings on human and close relationships. Organized into twelve thematic chapters with editorial commentary throughout, the Editors offer a critical reading of the major research articles in the field of relationship studies published in the last few years. Scholarly papers, two per chapter, are presented in an abridged form and critiqued in a carefully structured way that instructs students on the way to read research, and to critically evaluate research in this field. The book, therefore, has a thoroughly didactic focus as the student is given historical, theoretical and methodological contexts to each article as well as an explanation of key terms and ideas. Key features about this book: - Cross-Disciplinary use - an excellent book for all students taking human relationship modules in psychology, communication studies, sociology, social work, family studies and other subjects across the social sciences. - Maps onto course teaching - ideal for 12 week semester term course, covering major themes such as love, attraction, conflict and social networks. - Pedagogical - `How to use this book′ section at the start; chapter introductions and summaries throughout; glossary of key terms highlighted throughout the book at the end of the text. This text is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students wanting a straightforward, didiactic guide to understanding research on human relationships.

The study of personal relationships has proliferated as an interdisciplinary social science field. In this volume, leading authority Steve Duck brings the reader up to date on basic concepts and research findings on all aspects of personal relationships. The book discusses how children learn key relationship skills and how adult relationships start, develop, and are sustained, including friendship, romance, and heterosexual and same-sex partnerships. Coverage of clinical and social policy implications of the research gives the book a practical edge. This accessible, engaging book contains much of value for students of relationships, communication studies, and psychology.