Intimate Relationships Across Cultures : A Comparative Study / Charles T. Hill.

1. Introduction: why was this book written? 2. How do we know what matters in intimate relationships? 3. Why do people seek intimate relationships? 4. How are intimate partners selected? 5. What is love and how is intimacy expressed? 6. How do sexual attitudes and behaviors matter? 7. What are the dynamics of exchange and power? 8. How do couples cope with conflict? 9. How do external factors matter in intimate relationships? 10. How do intimate relationships relate to well-being? 11. How do the predictions combine in comprehensive models? 12. How much do the levels of factors vary? 13. What are the implications of the study? 14. Epilogue: What future research is needed? 15. Glossary of statistical terms 16. Boston couples study publications

Intimate relationships exist in social domains, in which there are cultural rules regarding appropriate behaviors. But they also inhabit psychological domains of thoughts, feelings, and desires. How are intimate relationships experienced by people living in various types of romantic or sexual relationships and in various cultural regions around the world? In what ways are they similar, and in what ways are they different? This book presents a cross-cultural extension of the findings originating from the classic Boston Couples Study. Amassing a wealth of new data from almost 9,000 participants worldwide, Hill explores the factors that predict having a current partner, relationship satisfaction, and relationship commitment. These predictions are compared across eight relationship types and nine cultural regions, then uniquely combined in a Comprehensive Partner Model and a Comprehensive Commitment Model. The findings test the generalizability of previous theories about intimate relationships, with implications for self-reflection, couples counseling, and well-being.