List of Contributors
Foreword

Preface

Part I Introduction

1 Social Exchange in Developing Relationships: An Overview

I. Introduction

II. The Nature of Close Relationships

III. The Development of Closeness in Relationships

IV. Social Exchange in Developing Relationships

V. The Social Context of Relationships

VI. Conclusion

References

Part II The Development Course of Close Relationships

2 The Initiation of Social Relationships and Interpersonal Attraction

I. The Importance of Understanding the Antecedents of the Initiation of Social Relationships

II. A Perceptual Approach to the Problem of Relationship Initiation

III. Outcome Dependency: A Framework for Viewing Relationship Initiation

IV. Identification of the Social Environment

V. Some Comments on the Relationship between Attention and Attraction

VI. Conclusions

References

3 Social Exchange and Behavioral Interdependence

I. Introduction

II. Stage I: Exploration

III. Stage II: Expansion of Interlocking Interest-Spheres

IV. Stage III: Commitment

V. Summary

References

4 Equity Theory and Intimate Relationships

I. Introduction

II. The Equity Formulation

III. The Theorists' Debate: Is Equity Theory Applicable to Intimate Relationships?

IV. The Accumulating Evidence

V. Summary

References

5 Conflict in the Development of Close Relationships

I. The Structure of Close Relationships

II. The Development of Close Relationships

III. The Role of Conflict in the Development of Close Relationships

References

6 A Social Exchange View on the Dissolution of Pair Relationships

I. Introduction

II. An Exchange Perspective on Relationships

III. Determinants of Pair Dissolution

IV. Conclusion

References

Part III Beyond the Dyad: Approaches to Explaining Exchange in Developing Relationships

7 Natural Selection and Social Exchange

I. Introduction

II. The Sexual Organism as Nepotist

III. Historical Relationships between Nepotism and Reciprocity

IV. Analyses of Human Nepotism and Reciprocity

V. The Evolution of Nepotism and Recipocity in Humans

VI. Ontogeny and Social Exchange

VII. Conclusions

References

8 Social Network Influence on the Dyadic Relationship

I. Introduction

II. Social Networks

III. Interactional Criteria

IV. Structural Criteria

V. Network Influences

VI. Social Exchange within Dyads

VII. Social-Exchange Theory Assumptions

VIII. Types of Dyadic Exchange Patterns

IX. Sequencing of Exchange Patterns within Dyadic Relationships

X. Social Network Influence on Dyadic Relationships

XI. Summary and Conclusions

References

9 Personality and Exchange in Developing Relationships

I. Introduction

II. The Nature of Personality

III. Personality and Commodities of Exchange

IV. Complementary Needs and Resource Exchange

V. Reciprocal Patterns of Activity

VI. Foresight of Future Satisfaction, or Rebuff

VII. Construal Style Revisited

VIII. Conclusion

References

10 A Dynamic Interactional Concept of Individual and Social Relationship Development

I. Introduction

II. Mechanistic and Organismic Models of Human Development

III. Components of Development

IV. Relationship Development

V. Implications for Social Exchange

VI. The Nature of Reward in Social Exchanges

VII. Conclusions

References

11 Sexual involvement and Relationship Development: A Cognitive Developmental Approach

I. Introduction

II. Person Variables Influencing Sexual Involvement

III. Relationship Variables: Sex and Social Exchange

IV. Sexual Decision Making and Moral Reasoning

V. Relationship Reasoning

VI. A Model for Sexual Involvement in Relationships

VII. Summary

References

12 Relationship Initiation and Development: A Life-Span Developmental Approach

I. Introduction

II. Critique and Recasting of Social Exchange Theory

III. Social Interactions and the Personality System

IV. Symbolic-Interactionist Approach to Social Relationships

V. Developmental Themes and Relationships

VI. Social Factors and Relationships

VII. Research Possibilities in Life-Span Social Interaction

References

Part IV Epilogue

13 Dynamic Theories of Social Relationships and Resulting Research Strategies

I. A Theoretical Introduction

II. A Methodological Introduction

III. Concept Validity

IV. Propositional (Internal) Validity

V. Generalization (External) Validity

VI. A Final Note

References

Author Index

Subject Index

Social Exchange in Developing Relationships is a collection of papers that deals with the systematic study of the development of relationships. The papers discuss several theoretical perspectives, such as evolutionary theory, personality theory, cognitive developmental theory, equity theory, role theory, and attribution theory. One paper discusses romantic relationships-the evolution of first acquaintance to close or intimate commitment. Another paper presents the hypothesis that the factors causing a relationship to begin will also probably steer intermediate cognitive processes, eventually influencing the nature of the relationship. Commitment requires specific concepts such as input levels contributed to the relationship, duration of these inputs, and their consistency of occurrence. The equity theory suggests that equity principles determine the selection of one's mate and how they (the partners) will get along in the future. One paper analyzes the dynamic theories of social relationships and the resulting research strategies: that the conceptualization of a parameter of a social relationship can affect the choice of data collection techniques and other matters. Sociologists, psychologists, historians, students, and academicians doing sociological research, can benefit greatly from this collection.