Few behavioral processes are more central to the development and maintenance of intimate relationships than the communication of affection. Indeed, affectionate expressions often initiate and accelerate relational development. By contrast, their absence in established relationships frequently coincides with relational deterioration. This text explores the scientific research on affection exchange to emerge from the disciplines of communication, social psychology, family studies, psychophysiology, anthropology, and nursing. Specific foci include the individual and relational benefits (including health benefits) of affectionate behavior, as well as the significant risks often associated with expressing affection. A new, comprehensive theory of human affection exchange is offered, and its merits relative to existing theories are explored.
• Discusses both the benefits and the risks of communicating affection • Describes how people experience affectionate communication mentally, psychologically, and physiologically • Highlights important research questions awaiting empirical attention
Contents
1. An introduction to affectionate communication; 2. Thinking about afection: the theories; 3. Encoding affectionate messages; 4. Decoding and responding to affectionate expressions; 5. Benefits of expressing and receiving affection; 6. Risks associated with affectionate communication; 7. A New Theoretic approach; 8. Affectionate communication in human interaction.
Printer friendly version