Over the course of the last few decades, the nature of close personal relationships has evolved dramatically. More and more people choose to marry in their 30s and 40s, meaning that an unprecedented number of people start families later in life than ever. Around the world, more cultures are embracing nontraditional lifestyles, ranging from cohabitation prior to marriage to polyamory. Many regions have grown more accepting of diverse gender and sexual orientations, and as a result, the image of what a family is, who has one, and at what age it is acceptable to start one all look very different from previous generations. Even our friendships have evolved, with technology bridging physical and interpersonal distances in previously impossible ways. This volume compiles the latest research and theory on close relationships in the twenty-first century from multi-disciplinary and international perspectives with the intent of taking stock of the cultural, political, and legal changes that have shaped the relationship landscape. Some of the important shifts that are captured are the rise of singlehood, online dating, and cohabitation, the new importance of social media, marriage equality, and changes in gender norms. New ways of forming families and unions via adoption, assisted reproduction, and remarriage are also covered, as well as coupling across cultural, racial, religious, and national lines.
Knitting together a diverse pool of international expertise, this book synthesizes a truly modern take on close personal relationships in the twenty-first century.
Foreword Elaine Hatfield and Richard L. Rapson Introduction: Modern Relationships of the 21st Century Mahzad Hojjat and Anne Moyer I. Dating in the 21st Century 1. Ideal Partner Characteristics in the 21st Century: What Are We Looking For? Claudia C. Brumbaugh and Jaclyn K. Doherty 2. Online or In-Person: How Do We Find Our Ideal Partner? Kathryn Coduto 3. Cohabitation vs. Marriage: Understanding Young Adults' Preference for Cohabitation in the 21st Century Sharon Sassler 4. Being Single in the 21st Century: Reasons and Consequences Elyakim Kislev II. Marriage in the 21st Century 5. Modern Marital Satisfaction: Are We Expecting Too Much? Daniel Perlman and Rowland S. Miller 6. Equity and Gender Roles in Marriage: Are We Finally Equal? Grace M. Wetzel and Diana T. Sanchez 7. What is a Marriage?: The Rise of More Diverse Unions Rhonda N. Balzarini, Karen L. Blair, and Marissa Walter 8. Marriage and Culture Around the World: Marrying Someone from a Different Race, Religion, or Nationality Stanly O. Gaines, Jr. 9. Conscious Uncoupling: Divorce in the 21st Century Abdullah S. Salehuddin, Tamara D. Afifi, and Jade Salmon III. Gender and Sexuality in the 21st Century 10. Sexuality in the 21st Century: A Feminist and Queer Theoretical Perspective on Sex and Sexuality in Emerging Adulthood Jasna Jovanovic and Jean Calterone Williams 11. Who Do We Love?: Shifts in Attitudes about Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Same-Sex Relationships Karen L. Blair, Erin L. Courtice, and Rhea Ashley Hoskin IV. Friendship in the 21st Century 12. Modern Friendships: Mixing Multiple Media and Affordances when Communicating with Friends Kelly Sweeney, Daniel A. Lee, and Andrew High 13. The New and Significant Role of Friendship in the 21st Century Emily T. Beauparlant, Mahzad Hojjat, Nicole Melancon, and Laura V. Machia 14. Friendship in the Time of COVID-19 Mahzad Hojjat, Anne Moyer, Sydney Brake, Brady D. Nelson, Lauren L. Richmond, Jessica L. Schleider, and Bonita London 15. Diverse Friendships: Formation, Maintenance, and Benefits J. Nicole Shelton, Kate M. Turetsky, Yeji Park, and Lindsey Eikenburg V. Families in the 21st Century 16. Adoption and Relationships in the 21st Century Ellen E. Pinderhughes, Seungmi M. Lee, and Madeline C. Smith 17. Communication and Resilience in Stepfamilies: Talking Close Relationships with Parents, Siblings, and Family Members into Being Dawn O. Braithwaite and Bailey M. Oliver-Blackburn 18. Technology-Assisted Parenthood and Modern Families in the 21st Century Sofia Gameiro VI. Current Trends in Health and Close Relationships in the 21st Century 19. Relationships and Health Anne Moyer, K. Olivia Mock, and Rose Martillotti 20. Close Relationships and Mental Health Charlotte R. Esplin, S. Gabe Hatch, and Scott R. Braithwaite Conclusion /Epilogue Art Aron
Mahzad Hojjat is Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. She has conducted research on intimate relationships for over 30 years with a focus on such topics as relationship satisfaction, conflict, betrayal, resilience, and forgiveness in friendships and romantic relationships. She is the co-editor, with Anne Moyer, of The Psychology of Friendship, and with Duncan Cramer, of Positive Psychology of Love. She has another co-edited book entitled Satisfaction in Close Relationships with Robert Sternberg. Anne Moyer is Professor of Social and Health Psychology at Stony Brook University. Her research interests include relationships and health, psychosocial issues surrounding cancer and cancer risk, medical decision making, research methodology, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and the psychology of research participation. She is the co-editor, with Mahzad Hojjat, of The Psychology of Friendship published by Oxford University Press.
Reviews for Modern Relationships: Romance, Friendship, and Family in the 21st Century
There may be any number of books written on the psychology of relationships, but none until Modern Relationships reflects the complexity of interpersonal affairs in twenty-first century life (from singlehood by choice to conscious uncoupling). That is, until Mahzad Hojjat and Anne Moyer gathered together this group of influential investigators who have written a set of fascinating chapters embracing diverse orientations and various cultural perspectives. The chapters are well crafted and will be of interest to faculty and students alike. * Peter Salovey, President and Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology, Yale University *
