Sociology 961: Intimate Relationships 

The purpose of this seminar is 1) to read and discuss the social science literature on close or intimate relationships, and 2) to contribute to your development as a scholar of relationships.
 

September 11: Overview

Orbuch, Terri, and Sprecher, Susan.  (2003).  Atraction and interpersonal relationships.  In DeLamater, John (Ed.), Handbook of Social Psychology.  New York: Kluwer-Plenum, 339-362.
 

September 18: Theoretical Paradigms

Buss, David. (1998).  Sexual strategies theory: Historical origins and current status.   Journal of Sex Research, 35, 19-31.

Eagly, Alice H. & Wood, Wendy (1999). The origins of sex differences in human behavior: Evolved dispositions versus social roles.  American Psychologist, 54, 408-423.

Sternberg, Robert.  (1998).  Love is a Story: A New Theory of Relationships.  New York: Oxford University Press, Part I (pp. 1-44).

Swidler, Ann.  (2001).  Talk of Love: How Culture Matters.  Chicago: University of Chicago Press.  Introduction, Part 1 (pp. 1-40).

Relationship Processes

September 25: Communication

Krauss, Robert, and Fussell, Susan.  (1996).  Social psychological models of interpersonal communication.  In Higgins, E. Tory, and Kruglanski, Arie (Eds.), Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles.  New York: Guilford Press, 655-701.

Guerrero, Laura, Jones, Susanne, and Boburka, Renee.  (2006).  Sex differences in emotional communication.  In Dindia, Kathryn, aand Canary, Daniel (Eds.), Sex Differences and Similarities in Communication.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 241-261.
 

October 2: Attachment Processes

Reis, Harry, and Patrick, Brian.  (1996).  Attachment and intimacy: Component processes.    In Higgins, E. Tory, and Kruglanski, Arie (Eds.), Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles.  New York: Guilford Press, 523-563.

Feeney, Judith, and Noller, Patricia.  (2004).  Attachment and sexuality in close relationships.  In Harvey, John, Wenzel, Amy, and Sprecher, Susan (Eds.), The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 183-201.

October 9: Interdependence

Rusbult, Caryl, and Van Lange, Paul.  (1996).  Interdependence processes.    In Higgins, E. Tory, and Kruglanski, Arie (Eds.), Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles.  New York: Guilford Press, 564-596.  

October 16: Commitment

Rusbult, Caryl, Olsen, Nils, Davis, Jody, and Hannon, Peggy. (2001).  Commitment and relationship maintenance mechanisms.  In Harvey, John, and Wenzel, Amy (Eds.), Close Romantic Relationships: Maintenance and Enhancement.  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 87-114.

Gonzaga, Gian, Keltner, Dacher, Londahl, Esme, and Smith, Michael.  (2001).  Love and the commitment problem in romantic relationships and friendship.  Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81, 247-262.

Whitehead, Barbara, and Popenoe, David.  (2002).  Why men won’t commit: Exploring young men’s attitudes about sex, dating and marriage.  The National Marriage Project, on-line.
 

October 23: Social Support

Stroebe, Wolfgang, and Stroebe, Margaret.  (1996).  The social psychology of social support.  In Higgins, E. Tory, and Kruglanski, Arie (Eds.), Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles.  New York: Guilford Press, 597-621.
 

October 30: Sexual Motivation/Sexual Desire

Pfaus, James.  (1999).  Revisiting the concept of sexual motivation.  In Rosen, Ray (Ed.), Annual Review of Sex Research, 10, 120-156.

Regan, Pamela.  (2004).  Sex and the attraction process: Lessons from science (and Shakespeare) on lust, love, chastity, and fidelity. In Harvey, John, Wenzel, Amy, and Sprecher, Susan (Eds.), The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 115-133. 

Okami, Paul, and Schackelford, Todd.  (2001).  Human sex differences in sexual psychology and behavior.  In Heiman, Julia (Ed.), Annual Review of Sex Research, 12, 186-241.

Tolman, Deborah, and Diamond, Lisa.  (2001).  Desegregating sexuality research: Cultural and biological perspectives on gender and desire.    In Heiman, Julia (Ed.), Annual Review of Sex Research, 12, 33-74.
 

November 6: Conflict and Agression

Holmes, John, and Murray, Sandra.  (1996).  Conflict in close relationships.  In Higgins, E. Tory, and Kruglanski, Arie (Eds.), Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles.  New York: Guilford Press, 622-654.

 Christopher, F. Scott, and Kisler, Tiffani.  (2004).  Sexual aggression in romantic relationships. In Harvey, John, Wenzel, Amy, and Sprecher, Susan (Eds.), The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 287-309.

 Relationships across the Life Course

November 13: Adolescence

Giordano, Pegy.  (2003).  Relationships in adolescence.  In Cook, Karen, and Hagan, John (Eds.), Annual Review of Sociology, 29, 257-281.

Miller, Brent, and Benson, Brad.  (1999).  Romantic and sexual relationship development during adolescence.  In Furman, Wyndol, Brown, B. Bradford, and Feiring, Candice (Eds.), The Development of Romantic Relationships in Adolescence.  Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 99-121.

Diamond, Lisa, Savin-Williams, Ritch, and Dube, Eric.  (1999).  Sex, dating, passionate friendships, and romance: Intimate peer relations among lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents.  In Furman, Wyndol, Brown, B. Bradford, and Feiring, Candice (Eds.), The Development of Romantic Relationships in Adolescence.  Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 175-210.
 

November 20: Adulthood

Teachman, Jay, Tedrow, Lucky, and Crowder, Kyle.  (2001).  The changing demography of America’s families.  In Milardo, Robert (Ed.), Understanding Families into the new Millennium: A Decade in Review.  Minneapolis, MN: National Council on Family Relations, 453-465.

Willetts, Marion, Sprecher, Susan, and Beck, Frank.  (2004).  Overview of sexual practices and attitudes within relational contexts. In Harvey, John, Wenzel, Amy, and Sprecher, Susan (Eds.), The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 57-86. 

Bradbury, Thomas, Fincham, Frank, and Beach, Steven.  (2001).  Research on the nature and determinants of marital satisfaction: A decade in review.  In Milardo, Robert (Ed.), Understanding Families into the new Millennium: A Decade in Review.  Minneapolis, MN: National Council on Family Relations, 183-199.

Patterson, Charlotte. (2001).  Family relationships of lesbians and gay men.  In Milardo, Robert (Ed.), Understanding Families into the new Millennium: A Decade in Review.  Minneapolis, MN: National Council on Family Relations, 271-288.

November 27: Later Life

Allen, Katherine, Blieszner, Rosemary, and Roberto, Karen.  (2001).  Families in the middle and later years: A review and critique of research in the 1990s. In Milardo, Robert (Ed.), Understanding Families into the new Millennium: A Decade in Review.  Minneapolis, MN: National Council on Family Relations, 130-145.
 
 Burgess, Elisabeth.  (2004).  Sexuality in midlife and later life couples. In Harvey, John, Wenzel, Amy, and Sprecher, Susan (Eds.), The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 437-454. 

December 4: Student Presentations 
 

December 11: Student Presentations