John H. Harvey

When W. H. Freeman originally published this book in 1983, the scientific study of relationships was in its childhood. 'Relationship science' has since become an established endeavor in psychology, sociology, and other social and behavioral science disciplines—complete with its own organizations, journals, book series, handbooks, and sourcebooks. A lengthy new introduction by Ellen Berscheid and Harold Kelley documents the evolution of the field. From the Introduction to the Percheron Press Edition . . . '[W]e speak for all of the authors of Close Relationships when we express our great pleasure in seeing our book back in print again, for we believe its republication reflects the growing importance of the relationship field. We also believe its key messages are as sound and relevant today as they were at the time of the book’s initial publication nearly two decades ago.'

Written in a personal, story-telling style, Odyssey weaves excerpts of actual relationships with current and classic research to provide a better perspective on our own experiences in light of the principles of relationships. Highlights of its comprehensive coverage include the classic research on personal attraction, dating and meeting others for closeness, and the maintenance and dissolution of relationships. "Recommendations for Growth" provides an opportunity for readers to directly apply current research and theory to their own relationships. Features new to this edition include the latest research and therapeutic techniques on maintaining and enhancing relationships; a new chapter on the family with recent demographic changes and a look at the ongoing debates about the impact of cohabitation, divorce, and blended families; and new chapters on same sex relationships and the dark side of relationships, including why women stay in abusive relationships. Odyssey of the Heart serves as a text for courses on close and/or interpersonal relationships. Its accessibility and inclusion of many actual experiences will engage the general reader.

This book initially was conceived in 1986 by Weary and Harvey as a revi­ sion and update of their 1981 Perspectives on Attributional Processes (pub­ lished by Wm. C. Brown," Dubuque, Iowa). However: toe extensive nature of recent work on attributional processes and the opportunity to collabo­ rate with Melinda Stanley as a coauthor led to a plan to develop a more comprehensive work than the 1981 book. It definitely is an amalgam of our interests in social and clinical psychology. It represents our commitment to basic theoretical and empirical inquiry blended with the applications of ideas and methods to understanding attribution in more naturalistic set­ tings, and as it unfolds in the lives of different kinds of people coping with diverse problems of living. The book represents a commitment also to the breadth of approach to attribution questions epitomized by Fritz Heider's uniquely creative mind and work in pioneering the area. To us, the attribu­ tional approach is not a sacrosanct school of thought on the human condi­ tion. It is, rather, a body of ideas and findings that we find to be highly useful in our work as social (JH and GW) and clinical (GW and MS) psychology scholars. It is an inviting approach that, as we shall describe in the book, brings together ideas and work from different fields in psychology-all concerned with the pervasive and inestimab1e importance of interpretive activity in human experience and behavior.

Featuring excerpts of essays collected from over one thousand young adults while in the throes of divorce, this book paints a picture of the pain and the hope shown by the storytellers. By framing the narratives with an analysis of the most recent divorce literature, the authors provide readers with a greater and more vivid understanding of the effects of divorce.Challenging the contention that most children will be irretrievably hurt by their parents' divorce, some stories clearly demonstrate the strength and resilience many have learned in dealing with a divorce in the family. Emphasis is placed on how hope about the possibilities of having close relationships - as well as a willingness to create stronger families in their own lives - represent abiding motivations in this sample of young people. The authors hope that the use of the raw input of respondents will make the experiences more realistic and ultimately help people deal with major loss events in their lives.Highlights of the new edition include:A new chapter (7) that demonstrates the messiness of divorce (infidelity, dysfunctional interactions, multiple marriages/relationships, and the financial expense), the fading stigma of divorce, the latest divorce rates, the increased average age of first time marriages, and the recent hook-up phenomenon wherein young people are showing a reluctance to commitmentUpdated throughout with the most current demographic data, new findings from the top researchers in the field, and the latest intervention programsA review of the Divorce Variability and Fluidity Model (DVFM) that helps predict variability in adjusting to divorceMore suggestions to help children adapt to divorce, including material on parenting education classes and mediation as a method for easing the processA list of readings and suggested websites for further reviewMore tables and graphs to summarize key concepts.An ideal supplement for courses on divorce, family studies, close relationships, and loss and trauma taught in human development and family studies, and clinical, counseling, and social psychology, as well as communication, social work, and sociology, these engaging stories also appeal to practitioners and those interested in the effects of divorce in general.

Featuring excerpts of essays collected from over one thousand young adults while in the throes of divorce, this book paints a picture of the pain and the hope shown by the storytellers. By framing the narratives with an analysis of the most recent divorce literature, the authors provide readers with a greater and more vivid understanding of the effects of divorce.Challenging the contention that most children will be irretrievably hurt by their parents' divorce, some stories clearly demonstrate the strength and resilience many have learned in dealing with a divorce in the family. Emphasis is placed on how hope about the possibilities of having close relationships - as well as a willingness to create stronger families in their own lives - represent abiding motivations in this sample of young people. The authors hope that the use of the raw input of respondents will make the experiences more realistic and ultimately help people deal with major loss events in their lives.Highlights of the new edition include:A new chapter (7) that demonstrates the messiness of divorce (infidelity, dysfunctional interactions, multiple marriages/relationships, and the financial expense), the fading stigma of divorce, the latest divorce rates, the increased average age of first time marriages, and the recent hook-up phenomenon wherein young people are showing a reluctance to commitmentUpdated throughout with the most current demographic data, new findings from the top researchers in the field, and the latest intervention programsA review of the Divorce Variability and Fluidity Model (DVFM) that helps predict variability in adjusting to divorceMore suggestions to help children adapt to divorce, including material on parenting education classes and mediation as a method for easing the processA list of readings and suggested websites for further reviewMore tables and graphs to summarize key concepts.An ideal supplement for courses on divorce, family studies, close relationships, and loss and trauma taught in human development and family studies, and clinical, counseling, and social psychology, as well as communication, social work, and sociology, these engaging stories also appeal to practitioners and those interested in the effects of divorce in general.

This volume provides a statement of a theory of how committed romantic partners can maintain and enhance their close relationships over an extended period. It blends the relationship scholarship on closeness with practical advice and comparison of minding with several other major theories of how to maintain closeness. Minding is a package of reciprocal thought, feeling and behaviour and involves components of behaviour aimed at knowing and being known by one's partner, attribution about one's partner and the relationship, respect, acceptance and a never-ending commitment to the process. Minding the Close Relationship will serve as a supplementary textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in social psychology, communication, family studies, and clinical and counselling psychology.

Written in a personal, story-telling style, Odyssey weaves excerpts of actual relationships with current and classic research to provide a better perspective on our own experiences in light of the principles of relationships. Highlights of its comprehensive coverage include the classic research on personal attraction, dating and meeting others for closeness, and the maintenance and dissolution of relationships. "Recommendations for Growth" provides an opportunity for readers to directly apply current research and theory to their own relationships. Features new to this edition include the latest research and therapeutic techniques on maintaining and enhancing relationships; a new chapter on the family with recent demographic changes and a look at the ongoing debates about the impact of cohabitation, divorce, and blended families; and new chapters on same sex relationships and the dark side of relationships, including why women stay in abusive relationships. Odyssey of the Heart serves as a text for courses on close and/or interpersonal relationships. Its accessibility and inclusion of many actual experiences will engage the general reader.

Throughout our lives, we are influenced by the sensation of loss. Whether implicit or obvious, the impact of this sense of loss affects our daily thinking and behavior. This new text provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of loss via exploration into three major types of loss: loss of important relationships (divorce or perhaps the dissolution of important relationships and friendships); losses that damage who we are, our self-esteem (loss of employment); and losses resulting from victimization (being the target of violence or prejudice; loss of home in a natural disaster).Students of sociology, theology, and family studies will find this text of key interest. Moreover, professionals in these fields, including the fields of trauma and loss, will appreciate the thorough literature review, practical language, clinical interventions, and case highlights.

Throughout our lives, we are influenced by the sensation of loss. Whether implicit or obvious, the impact of this sense of loss affects our daily thinking and behavior. This new text provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of loss via exploration into three major types of loss: loss of important relationships (divorce or perhaps the dissolution of important relationships and friendships); losses that damage who we are, our self-esteem (loss of employment); and losses resulting from victimization (being the target of violence or prejudice; loss of home in a natural disaster).Students of sociology, theology, and family studies will find this text of key interest. Moreover, professionals in these fields, including the fields of trauma and loss, will appreciate the thorough literature review, practical language, clinical interventions, and case highlights.

This volume provides a statement of a new theory of how committed romantic partners can maintain and enhance their close relationships over an extended period. It blends the latest relationship scholarship on closeness with practical advice and comparison of minding with several other major theories of how to maintain closeness. Minding is a package of reciprocal thought, feeling, and behavior and involves components of behavior aimed at knowing and being known by one’s partner, attribution about one’s partner and the relationship, respect, acceptance, and a never ending commitment to the process. Minding the Close Relationship will serve as a supplementary textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in social psychology, communication, family studies, and clinical, and counseling psychology.