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Handbook of Relationship Initiation

• Edited by Susan Sprecher, Amy Wenzel, John Harvey

• Price: $44.95
• Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
• Pages: 600
• Published by: Psychology Press
• Publication Date: 11th June 2008
• ISBN: 978-0-8058-6160-0

About the Book

The Handbook of Relationship Initiation is the first volume to focus specifically on the very beginning stage of relationships – their origin. In this handbook, leading scholars on relationships review the literature on various processes related to the initiation of relationships: how people meet, communicate for the first time, and begin to define themselves as being in a relationship. Topics include attraction, mate selection, influence of social networks on relationship initiation, initiation over the internet, hook-ups among young adults, and flirting and opening gambits. In addition, the dark side of relationship initiation is considered, including unwanted relationship pursuit and barriers to relationship initiation including social anxiety.

This volume provides an overdue synthesis of the literature on this topic. It is especially timely in view of the growing prevalence on relationship initiation online, through matchmaking and other social networking sites, which has increased awareness that science can be used to understand, create, and facilitate compatible matching.

This Handbook provides an essential resource for an interdisciplinary range of researchers and students who study relationships, including social psychologists, communication scientists and scholars of marriage and the family.

Table of Contents

Contents

Part I: Introduction

S. Sprecher, A. Wenzel & J. Harvey, Preface.

C. A. Bredow, R. M. Cate, T. L. Huston, Have We Met Before? A Conceptual Model of First Romantic Encounters.

B. Fehr, Friendship Formation.

D. P. Schmitt, An Evolutionary Perspective on Mate Choice and Relationship Initiation.

G. Creasey & P. Jarvis, Attachment Theory and Research: A Special Focus on Relationship Initiation.

Part II: The Process of Relationship Initiation.

M. R. Cunningham & A. P. Barbee, Prelude to a Kiss: Nonverbal Flirting, Opening Gambits, and Other Communication Dynamics in the Initiation of Romantic Relationships.

L. K. Knoblock & L. E. Miller, Uncertainty and Relationship Initiation.

W. A. Afifi & A. A. Lucas, Information Seeking in Initial Stages of Relational Development.

V. J. Derlega, B. A. Winstead & K. Greene, Self-Disclosure and Starting a Close Relationship.

L. K. Guerrero & P. A. Mongeau, On Becoming "More than Friends": The Transition from Friendship to Romantic Relationship.

Part III: Diverse Contexts of Relationship Initiation

X. B. Arriaga, C. R. Agnew, N. M. Capezza & J. J. Lehmiller, The Social and Physical Environment of Relationship Initiation: An Interdependence Analysis.

P. W. Eastwick, E. J. Finkel, Speed-dating: A Powerful and Flexible Paradigm for Studying Relationship Initiation.

K. Y. A. McKenna, MySpace or Your Place: Relationship Initiation and Development in the Wired and Wireless World.

S. Sprecher, P. Schwartz, J. Harvey & E. Hatfield, Thebusinessoflove.com: Relationship Initiation at Internet Matchmatching Services.

Part IV: Attraction and Other Emotions in Relationship Initiation

J. W. Bruce & W. G. Graziano, Attraction and the Initiation of Relationships: A Review of the Empirical Literature.

S. Sprecher & D. Felmlee, Insider Perspectives to Attraction.

A. Aron, H. E. Fisher, G. Strong, B. Acevedo, S. Riela & I. Tsapelas, Falling in Love.

S. S. Hencrick & C. Hendrick, Satisfaction, Love, and Respect in the Initiation of Romantic Relationships.

S. Metts & S. L. Mikucki, The Emotional Landscape of Relationship Initiation.

Part V: Challenges and Problematic Relationship Initiation

E. L. Paul, A. Wenzel & J. H. Harvey, Hookups: A Facilitator or a Barrier to Relationship Initiation and Intimacy Development?

M. A. Fine, T. A. Coffelt & L. N. OlsonRomantic Relationship Initiation following Relationship Dissolution.

W. R. Cupach & B. H. Spitzberg, "Thanks, but No Thanks…." The Occurrence and Management of Unwanted Relationship Pursuit.

A. Wenzel & T. B. Kashdan, Emotional Disturbances and the Initial Stages of Relationship Development: Processes and Consequences of Social Anxiety and Depression.

Part VI: Cognitions, Beliefs, and Memories About Relationship Initiation

L. Custer, D. Holmberg, K. Blair & T. L. Orbuch, "So How Did You Two Meet?": Narratives of Relationship Initiation.

C. R. Knee & A. L. Bush, Relationship Beliefs and Their Role in Relationship Initiation.

S. Tran, J. A. Simpson & G. J. O. Fletcher, The Role of Ideal Standards in Relationship Initiation Processes.

G. D. Reeder, Perceptions of Goals and Motives in Romantic Relationships.

Part VII: Commentary

D. Perlman, Ending the Beginning of Relationships.