Close Relationship Loss

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvi

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. The Role of Theory in the Examination of Relationship Loss

      • Steve Duck

      Pages 3-27

   3. Integration of Methodology, Theory, and Therapy

      • Susan S. Hendrick

      Pages 28-44

3. Determinants of Relationship Loss

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 45-45

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   2. Social Exchange Perspectives on the Dissolution of Close Relationships

      • Susan Sprecher

      Pages 47-66

   3. Disruption of Marital and Cohabitation Relationships: A Social Demographic Perspective

      • James A. Sweet, Larry L. Bumpass

      Pages 67-89

   4. Broken Attachments: Relationship Loss From the Perspective of Attachment Theory

      • Cindy Hazan, Phillip R. Shaver

      Pages 90-108

4. Process of Relationship Loss

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 109-109

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   2. The Language of Disengagement: A Face-Management Perspective

      • Sandra Metts

      Pages 111-127

   3. Dialectical Processes in the Disengagement of Interpersonal Relationships

      • William R. Cupach

      Pages 128-141

   4. Developmental Perspectives on Relationship Loss

      • Rosemary Blieszner, Jay A. Mancini

      Pages 142-154

5. Consequences of Relationship Loss

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 155-155

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   2. Marital Dissolution and Family Adjustment: An Attributional Analysis

      • John H. Grych, Frank D. Fincham

      Pages 157-173

   3. The Account-Making Process: A Phenomenological Approach

      • Ann L. Weber

      Pages 174-191

   4. A Symbolic Interactionist Approach to the Study of Relationship Loss

      • Terri L. Orbuch

      Pages 192-204

6. Concluding Comments

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 205-205

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   2. Divorce: A Comment About the Future

      • Graham B. Spanier

      Pages 207-212

   3. Close Relationship Loss As a Set of Inkblots

      • George Levinger

      Pages 213-221

7. Back Matter

   Pages 223-233

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Social scientists from various disciplines have been increasingly concerned with the nature, structure, and function of close relationships. Although most of the early work on the topic of close relationships drew attention to the development of close relationships, since the mid-1970s researchers have begun to investigate the many different aspects connected to the loss of close relationships. Despite the change to a more comprehensive conceptual framework, close relationship research is often criticized for being atheoretical; the research is criticized for being purely descriptive in nature and thus lacking a more theoretical framework. Contrary to this belief, I wish to argue that researchers in the area of close relationship loss employ several critical and prominent theoretical perspectives to describe, explain, and understand the endings of relationships-thus, the fruition of this book. The major aim of this edited book is to present and illuminate, within one volume, some of these major theoretical perspectives. The volume as a whole has several unique qualities. First, within each chapter, the authors provide a general overview of the theoretical per­ spective or approach within which they examine close relationship loss.

• attribution
• communication
• demography
• family studies
• interaction

• Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA

  Terri L. Orbuch

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