Initiation of Relationships

Paper Summary:

The maintenance and dissolution of relationships are two subjects that have been extensively studied. The initiation of relationships, however, is one area that has been relatively neglected. Studying how relationships start, helps us better understand how successful relationships are maintained and why unsuccessful relationships fail, according to Catherine L. Clark, Phillip R. Shaver and Matthew F. Abrahams, the authors of "Strategic Behaviors in Romantic Relationship Initiation." This paper examines the article by analyzing the authors? two studies of relationship initiation, the value of those studies and suggestions for continued research in this field.

From the Paper:

"Gender proved to be an even more important variable in the second part of Study One. Men were more likely than women to initiate a relationship with their imagined partner, more confident, more motivated, more direct, and more likely to report manipulating the situation. Female participants were more likely to rely upon their imagined partner to initiate the relationship and expressed more concern about the risk of an unsuccessful initiation attempt. The authors also found gender differences in the subjects? evaluations of direct, indirect, and passive strategies. Overall, the participants generally found that emotional disclosure, direct, and manipulating the setting strategies were the most effective. The demonstrating resources and passive strategies were the least effective (Clark, Shaver & Abrahams, p. 711)."

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