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Intimate Relationships
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Intimate Relationships

Second Edition
January 2026 | 608 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Intimate Relationships offers a comprehensive and contemporary exploration of the science behind human connection. Award-winning teachers and writers, Wind Goodfriend and new co-author Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., bring a fresh, inclusive, and engaging approach to the study of relationships by integrating family and friendship dynamics alongside romantic relationships, and by emphasizing research methods, open science, and key psychological theories. The new Second Edition continues to engage today’s students by applying relationship science to real-world examples and offering practical tools to help students apply what they learn to their own lives. With over 500 new references, fresh popular culture examples, and the new feature “Making Use of Relationship Science” in every chapter, this edition offers a current and compelling look at relationships in the modern age.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Relationship Science
Why Study Relationship Science?

 
What Are Different Kinds of Intimate Relationships?

 
How Is this Book Organized?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 2: Research Methods and Analysis
What Research Methods Help Us Understand Relationships?

 
How Do We Analyze Results?

 
What Is “Open Science”?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 3: Friendship and Singlehood
What Predicts How and When Friendships Will Form?

 
How Do Friendships Change Over Time, and How Can Healthy Friendships Be Maintained?

 
Why Do Some People Choose Singlehood Versus Commitment to a Relationship Partner?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 4: Attraction
What Physical Factors Predict Attraction?

 
What Psychological Factors Predict Attraction?

 
What Environmental Factors Predict Attraction?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 5: The Evolutionary Perspective
How Is an Evolutionary Perspective Applied to Intimate Relationships?

 
How Does the Evolutionary Perspective Explain Sex Differences in Promiscuity and Jealousy?

 
How Can the Evolutionary Perspective Apply to Other Important Relationship Behaviors?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 6: Attachment Theory
What Is Attachment Theory, and How Was It Formed?

 
How Is Attachment Theory Applied to Adult Relationships?

 
What Are Important Questions for and About Attachment Theory?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 7: Interdependence Theory
What Are the Main Ideas Within Interdependence Theory?

 
What Factors Predict Relationship Commitment and Stability?

 
What Advances to Interdependence Theory Have Been Made?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 8: Social Cognition
How Do We Form and Maintain Impressions?

 
How Are We Biased Toward Our Current Partner?

 
How Do Our Worldviews Affect Our Relationships?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 9: Modern Dating in a Digital Age
How Has the Modern Landscape of Dating and Relationships Changed?

 
How Do People Navigate the Complexities of Online Dating?

 
What Are the Main Challenges in Modern Dating?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 10: Sexuality
How Does Sexual Identity Vary?

 
How Does Culture Influence Sexuality?

 
How Can Sexual Experiences Be More Satisfying?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 11: Communication and Conflict
How Can Communication Build Intimacy in Relationships?

 
What Are Common Stresses and Strains in Relationships?

 
How Do People in Relationships Engage in Conflict Management?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 12: Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence
What Does Research Say About Sexual Assault and Rape?

 
What Does Relationship Violence Look Like?

 
How Do Survivors Escape and Heal?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 13: Dissolution and Divorce
How Do People Decide to End Their Relationship?

 
What Predicts Breakup and Divorce?

 
What Does Life Look Like After a Relationship Ends?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Chapter 14: Enduring Love
What Can People Do to Maintain Healthy Relationships Over Time?

 
What Can Couple Members Do to Understand and Cope with Relationship Problems?

 
Can Counseling Help Couples Overcome Relationship Problems?

 
Chapter Summary

 
List of Terms

 
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • New co-author Gary Lewandowski Jr. brings new expertise and a fresh perspective to the second edition, enriching the text with expanded coverage of relationship science and student-centered pedagogy. In addition to his work as an award-winning teacher and researcher, Lewandowski is a prolific author of textbooks, the blog "The Psychology of Relationships," and the bestseller Stronger Than You Think: The 10 Blind Spots That Undermine Your Relationship...and How to See Past Them.
  • A brand-new chapter on Modern Dating in a Digital Age.
  • Reorganized content: the final chapter from the first edition has been split in two, "Breakup" and "Enduring Love," for deeper coverage.
  • Making Use of Relationship Science, a new feature in every chapter, distills research into practical, actionable tips for improving relationships.
  • Expanded coverage of topics such as non-monogamous relationships, relationship violence in LGBTQ+ couples, gaslighting, incels, and emotional capital.
  • Updated popular culture references, including Bridgerton, Love is Blind, queer cinema, and parasocial relationships.
  • Over 500 new references and full alignment with the APA Style 7th edition inclusive language guidelines.
KEY FEATURES:
  • A conversational tone and inclusive language make the book highly accessible, approachable, and enjoyable for readers of all backgrounds.
  • Chapter-opening Big Questions preview the main ideas to be explored; Big Questions are answered in summaries at the conclusion of chapters.
  • Learning objectives list what students should be able to accomplish upon chapter completion; objectives are revisited at the conclusion of chapters alongside relevant key terms.
  • Relationships and Popular Culture sections tie chapter material to a TV show, movie, song, or book to help students see class topics in the everyday world around them.
  • Research Deep Dive sections examine a study in terms of research methods, statistical analysis, and conclusions to help students understand the science behind the study of intimate relationships.
  • Check Your Understanding multiple choice questions with accompanying answer keys throughout chapters help students see if they are retaining the material.
  • Application Activities and Critical Thinking Questions throughout chapters include class activities, essay prompts, and discussion questions that serve as a built-in way for instructors to generate discussions and assignments.
  • What's My Score? features prompt students to complete a self-report measure of a variable and check their results, making the material personally relevant.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Ch1-2