Social Influences on Romantic Relationships

How do we choose a partner to initiate a relationship with, and what makes us stay in a given relationship over time? These questions are most often pursued by scholars with an emphasis on the internal thoughts, feelings, and motivations of individual decision-makers. Conversely, this volume highlights the importance of considering external influences on individual decision-making in close relationships. Featuring contributions from internationally renowned scholars, the volume is divided into two interrelated sections. The first section considers global and societal influences on romantic relationships and the second focuses on social network and communicative influences on romantic relationships. Taken together, this collection helps us to better understand how external factors influence the internal machinations of those involved in intimate relationships.

How do external factors influence close personal relationships? This volume presents theory and research by social and behavioral scientists on external influences on adult intimate relationships. The chapters bring together interdisciplinary perspectives, combining different methodologies and levels of analysis to address social influences at key stages of coupled relationships.

Introduction: external influences beyond the dyad Christopher R. Agnew; Part I. Global and Societal Influences on Romantic Relationships: 1. The influence of globalization and technological development on intimate relationships Çäla Sanr¿ and Robin Goodwin; 2. Social capitalization in personal relationships Robert M. Milardo, Heather M. Helms, Eric D. Widmer and Stephen R. Marks; 3. Family relationships embedded in United States military culture Leanne K. Knobloch and Erin C. Wehrman; 4. Prejudice and stigma in intimate relationships: implications for relational and personal health outcomes Justin J. Lehmiller and Michael Ioerger; Part II. Social Network and Communicative Influences on Romantic Relationships: 5. The influence of subjective norms on close relationships Paul E. Etcheverry and Benjamin Le; 6. Network perceptions of daters' romances Elizabeth Keneski and Timothy J. Loving; 7. The new story of Romeo and Juliet H. Colleen Sinclair and Chelsea N. Ellithorpe; 8. Third-party forgiveness: social influences on intimate dyads Jeffrey D. Green, Jody L. Davis and Chelsea A. Reid; 9. Relationship advice Erina MacGeorge and Elizabeth Dorrance Hall.