Relationship initiation: Bridging the gap between initial attraction and well-functioning communal relationships
Affiliation of Author, Researcher, or Creator
Marlboro Institute of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies
Department
Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies
Author(s)
Clark, M. S., Beck, L. A., & Aragón, O. R.
Resource Type
Book Chapter
Publication, Publisher or Distributor
American Psychological Association
Publication Date
2019
Brief Description
This chapter addresses the question of how people form mutually responsive close relationships, including friendships and romantic relationships, that, in turn, may become family relationships. It begins by discussing characteristics of well functioning friendships and romantic relationships. The chapter considers what conditions in a person and in a potential partner lead to initial attraction and openness to initiating these relationships. It includes a brief review of some extant theories of relationship initiation. The chapter presents a model of relationship initiation. It holds that people start with an active goal of enhancing their sense of belonging and security, and then pursue three subgoals in the service of this overarching goal to establish a new communal relationship: Strategic self-presentation as a good and communal partner, self-protection lest they be subject to painful rejection, and partner evaluation. Pursuit of these three goals simultaneously combines to produce a dance of relationship initiation.
Keywords
close relationships, romantic relationships, friendships, relationship initiation
Recommended Citation
Clark, M. S., Beck, L. A., & Aragón, O. R. (2019). Relationship initiation: Bridging the gap between initial attraction and well-functioning communal relationships. In B. H. Fiese, M. Celano, K. Deater-Deckard, E. N. Jouriles, & M. A. Whisman (Eds.), APA handbook of contemporary family psychology (Vol. 1): Foundations, methods, and contemporary issues across the lifespan (pp. 409-425). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000099-023
Preferred Citation Style
APA
Peer Reviewed
1
License Agreement
1