Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Intimate Relationships covers both classic and current material in a concise yet thorough and rigorous manner. Chapters range from attraction to love, attachment to jealousy, sexuality to conflict--all written in a warm, personal, and engaging voice. Topics are viewed from an interdisciplinary perspective firmly grounded in research. Examples and stories from everyday life lead into each chapter to stir a student's engagement with the material, and critical thinking prompts throughout the text aid his or her reflection on the issues and theories presented. Each chapter is organized around major relationship issues and relevant theories, in addition to a critical evaluation of the research. When appropriate, the authors discuss and evaluate popular ideas about intimate relationships in the context of scientific research.

This Third Edition has been thoroughly updated and revised to include the latest findings and topics in relationship science, including the role of the Internet in today's relationships. Students will benefit from a revised chapter on sexuality that reflects current views on sexual orientation and sexual pathways, as well as a forward-looking chapter on the evolution and diversity of relationships in the 21st century.

To support student learning, the new edition includes flashcards, learning objectives, and outlines for each chapter. A companion website accessible at www.routledge.com/cw/erber provides instructors with PowerPoint presentations and a test bank, and provides students with flashcards of key terms as well as learning outcomes and chapter outlines for each chapter .

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Strangers, Friends, and Lovers: Why Is Life So Complicated?(p. 1)
• The Need to Belong(p. 2)
• Ostracism(p. 3)
• Distinct Relationship Needs(p. 3)
• The Inevitability of Social Relationships(p. 4)
• Intimate Relationships Yesterday and Today(p. 5)
• The Way We Were(p. 5)
• The Way We Are Now(p. 6)
• Summary(p. 10)
• 2 Methods to Study Relationships(p. 11)
• The Science of Intimate Relationships(p. 11)
• Methodology: Data Collection and Analysis(p. 12)
• Archival Research(p. 13)
• Systematic Observation(p. 13)
• Interviews and Surveys(p. 15)
• Interpreting Survey Data: Correlations(p. 17)
• Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Research(p. 18)
• Experimentation(p. 19)
• Collecting Couple Data(p. 21)
• Ethical Considerations(p. 21)
• Data Collection in Real Time: Recording Ongoing Interactions(p. 22)
• Speed-Dating as a Research Paradigm(p. 24)
• Data Collection in the Internet Age(p. 24)
• Meta-Analysis: The Analysis of Analyses(p. 25)
• Summary(p. 26)
• 3 Physical Attraction(p. 28)
• Physical Attractiveness and Dating Choices(p. 29)
• Standards of Attractiveness: Bodies and Faces(p. 30)
• Mirror, Mirror ...(p. 30)
• Evolution and Attractiveness(p. 32)
• The Importance of Averageness and Symmetry(p. 33)
• Cognitive Mechanisms(p. 35)
• The Physical Attractiveness Stereotype: Beauty Is as Beauty Does(p. 36)
• The "What Is Beautiful Is Good" Stereotype(p. 36)
• Cute Boys and Girls Are Better People, Too(p. 37)
• Infants Prefer Beautiful Faces(p. 38)
• Socialization(p. 38)
• Is the Attractiveness Stereotype Culturally Universal?(p. 39)
• "Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful": Some Ugly Truths About Attractiveness(p. 40)
• Is Beauty Solely in the Eye of the Beholder?(p. 42)
• Context Influences(p. 42)
• Dispositional Influences(p. 43)
• Attractiveness and Dating: A Reprise(p. 44)
• Summary(p. 46)
• 4 Psychological Attraction(p. 48)
• Theory-Driven Approaches(p. 48)
• Implicit Egotism(p. 48)
• Learning Principles(p. 49)
• Attraction as Misattribution of Arousal(p. 50)
• Characteristics of Others (Part I): The Gleam of Praise(p. 53)
• Characteristics of Others (Part II): Agreement Is Everything(p. 55)
• Similarity: Do Birds of a Feather Flock Together?(p. 57)
• Complementarity: Do Opposites Attract?(p. 59)
• Phenomenon-Driven Approaches(p. 63)
• Proximity: Marrying the Boy or Girl Next Door(p. 63)
• Playing "Hard to Get": Do We Love Those We Cannot Have?(p. 64)
• The Allure of Secret Relationships(p. 64)
• Summary(p. 66)
• 5 Self-Presentation and Self-Disclosure(p. 68)
• Self-Presentation(p. 68)
• Self-Presentation Norms(p. 70)
• Self-Presentation in the Heat of the Interaction(p. 71)
• Detecting Deceit in Self-Presentation(p. 72)
• Virtual Self-Presentation(p. 72)
• Models of Self-Disclosure(p. 73)
• Self-Disclosure as Social Penetration(p. 74)
• Self-Disclosure Reciprocity(p. 75)
• Individual Differences in Self-Disclosure(p. 77)
• Context Influences on Self-Disclosure(p. 80)
• Self-Disclosure in Mature Relationships(p. 81)
• Summary(p. 82)
• 6 Fairness and Equity(p. 85)
• The Nature of Resources Exchanged(p. 86)
• Rewards and Costs(p. 86)
• Variety of Resources Exchanged(p. 86)
• Determining What Is Fair: Equity Theory(p. 87)
• Establishing Whether There Is Equity(p. 88)
• Do People Really Seek Equity?(p. 89)
• Reactions to Inequity(p. 90)
• Evaluating Relationship Outcomes: Comparison Levels(p. 92)
• The Thibaut and Kelley Model(p. 92)
• The Investment Model(p. 94)
• Close Relationships as Communal Relationships(p. 95)
• Giving and Receiving Benefits(p. 96)
• Controversies Surrounding the Communal-Exchange Distinction(p. 98)
• Communal Orientation and Relationship Satisfaction(p. 99)
• Summary(p. 100)
• 7 Love and Emotion(p. 102)
• Liking and Loving: A Conceptual Distinction(p. 103)
• The Prototype of Love(p. 104)
• Causal Theories of Love(p. 105)
• The Evolution of Love(p. 105)
• Love as Misattribution of Arousal(p. 107)
• Love as Preoccupation With the Other(p. 107)
• Type Theories of Love(p. 109)
• The Colors of Love(p. 109)
• Research on Love Styles(p. 111)
• A Triangular Theory of Love(p. 112)
• Passionate Love and Companionate Love(p. 113)
• Individual Differences in Love(p. 115)
• Gender(p. 115)
• Age and Relationship Duration(p. 115)
• Love Over Time: Does It Get Better or Worse?(p. 117)
• Beyond Love: A Quick Look at Guilt(p. 117)
• Summary(p. 119)
• 8 Attachment(p. 121)
• Patterns of Attachment in Infancy(p. 122)
• Causes of Different Attachment Patterns(p. 123)
• Adult Attachment(p. 124)
• From Infant Attachment to Adult Attachment: Models of Transition(p. 128)
• Consequences of Adult Attachment Styles(p. 129)
• Summary(p. 136)
• 9 Sexuality(p. 138)
• Attitudes About Sex: An Evolving Story(p. 138)
• Sexual Behavior(p. 139)
• A Brief History of Research on Sex(p. 139)
• Sexual Behavior in the United States Today(p. 140)
• Sexual Satisfaction(p. 141)
• Sex Around the World(p. 141)
• Sexual Satisfaction, Relationship Satisfaction, Intimacy, and Commitment(p. 142)
• Sexual Communication(p. 143)
• Flirtation(p. 143)
• Initiating Sex(p. 144)
• Sexual Pathways(p. 146)
• Extradyadic Sex(p. 146)
• Serial Monogamy(p. 147)
• Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM)(p. 147)
• Asexuality(p. 149)
• Other Pathways to Sex: Hookups and Friends With Benefits(p. 149)
• Same-Sex Attraction(p. 151)
• Biological Essentialism(p. 151)
• Gay Brothers, but Not Lesbian Sisters: Impact of Environment on Development(p. 152)
• Female Sexuality and Sexual Fluidity(p. 153)
• Summary(p. 155)
• 10 Communication and Relationship Management(p. 158)
• Sex Differences in Communication(p. 158)
• Interruptions: Let Me Finish, Please!(p. 160)
• Language Use and Conversation Management(p. 162)
• Emotionality and Support(p. 165)
• Men and Women: Different Cultures, Different Planets?(p. 166)
• Different Cultures, Different Skills, or Different "Degrees"?(p. 168)
• Managing Relationships(p. 170)
• Transactive Memory in Close Relationships(p. 170)
• Creating and Maintaining Satisfying Relationships(p. 171)
• The Special Case of Long-Distance Relationships(p. 174)
• Summary(p. 177)
• 11 Infidelity and Jealousy(p. 179)
• Infidelity and Jealousy Across Time and Cultures(p. 179)
• Fidelity and Infidelity(p. 179)
• A Brief History of Jealousy(p. 180)
• Defining Jealousy(p. 181)
• Envy: I Want What I Cannot Have(p. 183)
• Sources of Jealousy: The Jealous Person, the Partner, and the Rival(p. 184)
• The jealous Person(p. 184)
• The Partner(p. 184)
• The Rival(p. 186)
• Social-Cognitive Approaches to Jealousy(p. 187)
• Reactions to Jealousy(p. 188)
• Gender Differences in Perceptions of Threat(p. 188)
• Gender and Reactions to Jealousy: "Every Breath You Take ... I'll Be Watching You"(p. 190)
• Coping With the Green-Eyed Monster(p. 191)
• An Attachment Approach to Jealousy(p. 192)
• Summary(p. 194)
• 12 Relationship Violence and Abuse(p. 195)
• Relationship Violence: Its Definition and Measurement(p. 196)
• Consequences of Relationship Violence(p. 197)
• Causes of Relationship Violence(p. 198)
• Common Beliefs and Realities(p. 198)
• Alcohol and Relationship Violence(p. 200)
• The Macrocontext of Relationship Violence(p. 202)
• The Microcontext of Relationship Violence: Individual Dispositions(p. 205)
• Sexual Violence(p. 209)
• Sexual Harassment(p. 210)
• Stranger Harassment(p. 212)
• Coercive Sex(p. 212)
• Summary(p. 215)
• 13 Conflict: Causes and Consequences(p. 217)
• Conflict Between Lovers and Strangers(p. 217)
• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Conflict in Intimate Relationships(p. 218)
• Defining Conflict(p. 219)
• From Order to Disorder: Types of Conflict(p. 219)
• Sources of Conflict: 'I Said ... You Said ..."(p. 220)
• Gender and Conflict: "He Said ... She Said ..."(p. 221)
• Age and Conflict(p. 222)
• Attribution and Conflict: Partner-Level Sources of Conflict(p. 223)
• Reactions to Conflict(p. 224)
• Expression Versus Avoidance(p. 225)
• Affect Reciprocity and Attribution(p. 226)
• Attachment Style and Conflict Resolution(p. 226)
• Transforming Relationships-From Conflict to Growth(p. 227)
• The Social Skill of Conflict Resolution(p. 228)
• Conflict in Context(p. 229)
• The Gospel According to John Gottman(p. 230)
• Dissolution of Intimate Relationships: The End of Romance(p. 231)
• Causes of Dissolution(p. 231)
• Barriers to Dissolution(p. 232)
• Alternatives to Dissolution(p. 232)
• Relationship Maintenance and Repair(p. 233)
• Therapy Approaches: How Well Do They Work?(p. 233)
• Forgiveness-Love Means You Should Say You're Sorry(p. 234)
• Summary(p. 236)
• 14 Intimate Relationships in the 21st Century(p. 238)
• Dating and Mating in the Internet Age(p. 238)
• Online Dating(p. 239)
• The Evolution of Marriage(p. 241)
• The Problem With Divorce(p. 242)
• Diversity of Marriage(p. 244)
• Marriage Equality(p. 244)
• Being and Remaining Single(p. 245)
• Summary(p. 246)
• References(p. 249)
• Index(p. 293)