Losses are integral to the human experience, but they sometimes unfold in subtle ways. Loss is not just about death, but can encompass a number of situations, such as those gradual losses experienced by the elderly: loss of vision, mental capacity, or hope. Intended to stimulate ideas and research in the new area of psychological aspects of loss, this sourcebook collects the writing of a set of distinguished scholars representing psychology and related fields. The author presents a case for a broadly-construed field of loss-both personal and interpersonal-that would complement other fields such as death and dying, traumatology, and stress and coping.
No other volume is as comprehensive in its treatment of this intriguing subject. The book begins with an introduction to the concept of loss and discusses the definition of the term and the salience of the topic in the general public in the 1990s. Contributors were chosen to represent some of the most interesting current work on different types of loss and adaptation in the whole of the social and behavioral sciences. Contents cover such diverse subjects as loss in intimate relationships, disability, chronic illness chronic illness, genocide, sports, unemployment, and homelessness. The book concludes with a commentary section on loss theory and research.

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Although sexuality is an integral part of close romantic relationships, research linking these two constructs has been less systematic than other areas pertaining to close relationships. To date, researchers in communication, sociology, family studies, psychology, and psychiatry, have made significant advances in both of these fields. The editors' goal is to integrate this research into one volume. They bring together major scholars from the diversity of fields working on close relationship topics to examine past contributions and new directions in sexuality. The emphasis is on theoretical integration and stimulation, methodological rigor, and critical analysis. This volume explores:
*early sexual experiences and their impact on late life sexuality;
*how life's stresses impact sexuality and satisfaction with closeness;
*the affect of postpartum depression on sexuality; and
*the relationship between control, power, anger, as well as revenge and sexual processes in couples.
"The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships" is intended for students and researchers in the disciplines of social, clinical, developmental, and health psychology; family studies; counseling; and interpersonal, family, and health communication. An excellent reference in advanced courses in close relationships taught in psychology, communications, sociology, anthropology, and family studies, the material in Part V will also appeal to clinical psychologists, health professionals, and policymakers.

In the past 10 years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of theoretical and empirical investigations into the maintenance and enhancement of close, romantic relationships. This literature targets the everyday behaviors, expressions of love, and cognitive styles that characterize such relationships. Chapters provide a sampling of the expanse of topics in the domain of how clinical scholars and practitioners address the timely topic of maintaining and enhancing close romantic relationships, including marriage. A distinguished group of scholars and therapists discuss specific problems, such as alcoholism and therapeutic interventions, such as insight therapy. Topics include maintenance issues relevant to: depression, anxiety disorders, the role of children in affecting close relationships, how premarital therapy may serve as an antidote to early relationship problems, forgiveness, remarriage issues, and peer marriage. This volume is intended for practitioners in the field of close romantic relationships, such as marriage, family and relationship therapists, and clinicians.

Contents:
Part 1: Theoretical Perspectives Section. New Directions in Loss Research, Miller and Omarzu. Blockades to Finding Meaning and Control, Thompson. Disillusionment and the Creation of Value, Janoff-Bulman and Berg. Exploring Loss through Autoethnographic Inquiry, Ellis. A Case for Hope in Pain, Loss, and Suffering, Snyder. Trauma and Grief, Stroebe, Schut, and Stroebe. Part 2: Close Relationship Losses Section. The Dissolution of Close Relationships, Sprecher and Fehr. Fatal Attractions, Felmlee. Loss in the Experience of Multiracial Couples, Rosenblatt and Tubbs. Curbing Loss in Illness and Disability, Lyons and Sullivan. Passion Lost and Found, Cunningham, Barbee and Druen. Part 3: Losses Faced by Survivors and Caretakers Section. Implications of Communal Relationships Theory for Understanding Loss among Family Caregivers, Williamson andShaffer. Brain Injury, Chwalisz, Loss Experienced in Chronic Pain and Illness, Kelley. Facilitating Recovery from Suicidal Bereavement, Range. Mental Health Professionals'Responses to Loss and Trauma, Solomon, Ram and Neria. Breaking the Cycle of Genocidal Violence, Staub. Part 4: Losses Related to Social Identity. The Experience of Loss in Sport, LLavallee, Grove, Gordon and Ford. What is Lost by Not Losing, Miller. Homelessness and Loss, Morse. Coping with Threat from Intimate Sources, Nuris and Gaylord. Loss of Collective Identity, Liiceanu. Job Loss, Price, Friedland and Vinokur. Part 5: Synthesizing Commentaries on Loss Theory and Research Section. Why There Must Be a Psychology of Loss, Harvey and Weber. Commentary, Neimeyer. Commentary, Weiss.

Written in a personal, story-telling style, Odyssey weaves excerpts of actual relationships with current and classic research to provide a better perspective on our own experiences in light of the principles of relationships. Highlights of its comprehensive coverage include the classic research on personal attraction, dating and meeting others for closeness, and the maintenance and dissolution of relationships. "Recommendations for Growth" provides an opportunity for readers to directly apply current research and theory to their own relationships. Features new to this edition include the latest research and therapeutic techniques on maintaining and enhancing relationships; a new chapter on the family with recent demographic changes and a look at the ongoing debates about the impact of cohabitation, divorce, and blended families; and new chapters on same sex relationships and the dark side of relationships, including why women stay in abusive relationships. Odyssey of the Heart serves as a text for courses on close and/or interpersonal relationships. Its accessibility and inclusion of many actual experiences will engage the general reader.

This comprehensive handbook presents the most up-to-date scholarship on divorce and the dissolution of relationships. It integrates work on the causes, processes, consequences, and policy implications of relationship dissolution. Featuring contributions from leading scholars from multiple disciplines, this Handbook reviews the patterns and processes involved in relationship termination, including why they may vary depending on such factors as legal status, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Chapters distinguish what is known about divorce from what is known about other types of relationship dissolution (dating, cohabiting, and gay and lesbian relationships). Each contributor considers their topic with respect to different types of relationships and to the commonalities and differences across these different relationship forms. divorce/relationship dissolution; causes and predictors of divorce/dissolution; consequences of divorce/dissolution on families; diversity and multicultural variations in divorce/dissolution processes and consequences; and legal, educational, and mediational interventions to facilitate healthy adaptation to relationship dissolution. The book focuses on the often-neglected processes involved as the relationship unfolds, such as infidelity, hurt, disaffection, remarriage, and the impact on stepfamilies. Diversity is addressed through the inclusion of separate chapters on gay and lesbian, Hispanic, and African American relationships, and the integration of diversity issues throughout the book wherever possible. The book's wide variety of theories and quantitative and qualitative research approaches provide important insights. Three concluding commentaries from highly accomplished scholars, Alan Booth, Robert Weiss, and Ellen Berscheid, provide a macro overview of this diverse field and recommendations for future research and policy directions. groundbreaking applications on: the legal and policy aspects of divorce, such as attempts to make divorce more difficult to obtain; educational programs for parents experiencing divorce; and mediation, the most commonly utilized alternative to traditional legal approaches to resolving divorce. The alarming increase of divorce and relationship dissolution in our society has resulted in increased research activity in a wide variety of disciplines. Until now, there was not one resource that reviewed this insightful research.

Although sexuality is an integral part of close romantic relationships, research linking these two constructs has been less systematic than other areas pertaining to close relationships. To date, researchers in communication, sociology, family studies, psychology, and psychiatry, have made significant advances in both of these fields. The editors' goal is to integrate this research into one volume. They bring together major scholars from the diversity of fields working on close relationship topics to examine past contributions and new directions in sexuality. The emphasis is on theoretical integration and stimulation, methodological rigor, and critical analysis. This volume explores: *early sexual experiences and their impact on late life sexuality; *how life's stresses impact sexuality and satisfaction with closeness; *the affect of postpartum depression on sexuality; and *the relationship between control, power, anger, as well as revenge and sexual processes in couples. The Handbook of Sexuality in Close Relationships is intended for students and researchers in the disciplines of social, clinical, developmental, and health psychology; family studies; counseling; and interpersonal, family, and health communication. An excellent reference in advanced courses in close relationships taught in psychology, communications, sociology, anthropology, and family studies, the material in Part V will also appeal to clinical psychologists, health professionals, and policymakers.

The field of close relationships is one of the most fertile areas of work in the social and behavioural sciences. Central to theoretical developments in the study of close relationships is a focus on people's interpretive activities and communication behavior. Theories of attribution and of communication styles are prominent in explanations of why and how people begin close relationships, maintain and enhance closeness, and sometimes terminate close relationships. Originally published in 2001, Attribution, Communication Behavior, and Close Relationships brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines whose work focuses on the interplay of attribution processes and communication behavior in close relationships. The book shows ways in which diverse scholarly perspectives can blend to provide insight into areas of common interest. In this case, it is the ways that people in relationships think about communication, make attributions through communication, and communicate about the attributions they make.

Written in a personal, story-telling style, "Odyssey" weaves excerpts of actual relationships with current and classic research to provide a better perspective on our own experiences in light of the principles of relationships. Highlights of its comprehensive coverage include the classic research on personal attraction, dating and meeting others for closeness, and the maintenance and dissolution of relationships. "Recommendations for Growth" provides an opportunity for readers to directly apply current research and theory to their own relationships.
Features new to this edition include the latest research and therapeutic techniques on maintaining and enhancing relationships; a new chapter on the family with recent demographic changes and a look at the ongoing debates about the impact of cohabitation, divorce, and blended families; and new chapters on same sex relationships and the dark side of relationships, including why women stay in abusive relationships.
"Odyssey of the Heart" serves as a text for courses on close and/or interpersonal relationships. Its accessibility and inclusion of many actual experiences will engage the general reader.

Contents:
Introduction to the Study of Loss. Definitions and an Accurate-Making Perspective. Loss of Close Others to Death. Loss of Close Others by Divorce or Dissolution. Loss due to Senseless Violence. Loss due to War adn Genocide. Loss due to Disease Processes and Accidents. Improverishment, Homelessness, and Loss of Employment. An International Perspective on Loss and Trauma: The Case of Romania. Disenfranchised Grief and Stigmatization. Adaptation. Epilogue: Practical Strategies for Coping with Major Loss. References.

ATTRIBUTIONS, ACCOUNTS AND CLOSE RELATIONSHPIS documents attributional and accounts approaches to the study of close relationships. Issues of focus include communication pro- blems in marriage and their relationship with causal attri- butions; marital violence and its relationship with early learning experience; ego-defensive attribution and excuse- making in couples and with respect to medical problems; and attributions about transitions in relationships.

This book initially was conceived in 1986 by Weary and Harvey as a revi sion and update of their 1981 Perspectives on Attributional Processes (pub lished by Wm. C. Brown," Dubuque, Iowa). However: toe extensive nature of recent work on attributional processes and the opportunity to collabo rate with Melinda Stanley as a coauthor led to a plan to develop a more comprehensive work than the 1981 book. It definitely is an amalgam of our interests in social and clinical psychology. It represents our commitment to basic theoretical and empirical inquiry blended with the applications of ideas and methods to understanding attribution in more naturalistic set tings, and as it unfolds in the lives of different kinds of people coping with diverse problems of living. The book represents a commitment also to the breadth of approach to attribution questions epitomized by Fritz Heider's uniquely creative mind and work in pioneering the area. To us, the attribu tional approach is not a sacrosanct school of thought on the human condi tion. It is, rather, a body of ideas and findings that we find to be highly useful in our work as social (JH and GW) and clinical (GW and MS) psychology scholars. It is an inviting approach that, as we shall describe in the book, brings together ideas and work from different fields in psychology-all concerned with the pervasive and inestimab1e importance of interpretive activity in human experience and behavior."

This volume provides a statement of a theory of how committed romantic partners can maintain and enhance their close relationships over an extended period. It blends the relationship scholarship on closeness with practical advice and comparison of minding with several other major theories of how to maintain closeness. Minding is a package of reciprocal thought, feeling and behaviour and involves components of behaviour aimed at knowing and being known by one's partner, attribution about one's partner and the relationship, respect, acceptance and a never-ending commitment to the process. Minding the Close Relationship will serve as a supplementary textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in social psychology, communication, family studies, and clinical and counselling psychology.

People often try to figure out why they acted the way they did or why others close to them acted in a certain way. The thoughts we have about why things happened are known as attributions. People have these thoughts about communication behavior, and they communicate the thoughts that they have. This book brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines whose work focuses on the interplay of attribution processes and communication behavior in close relationships.

This new comprehensive handbook presents the most up-to-date scholarship on the causes and predictors, processes, consequences, and policy implications of divorce and relationship dissolution. Featuring contributions from leading scholars in multiple disciplines, this Handbook reviews relationship termination, including variations depending on such factors as legal status, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The chapters distinguish what is known about divorce from what is known about other types of relationship dissolution (dating, cohabiting, etc.). The handbook focuses on the often-neglected processes involved as the relationship unfolds, such as infidelity, hurt, disaffection, and remarriage. It also covers the legal and policy aspects of divorce including mediation, educational programs for parents experiencing divorce, and the demographics and historical aspects of divorce. Diversity is addressed through the inclusion of chapters on gay and lesbian, Hispanic, and African American relationships, and the integration of diversity issues wherever possible. overview of the field and recommendations for future research and policy directions. The Handbook of Divorce and Relationship Dissolution is intended for researchers, practitioners, counselors, clinicians, and advanced students in psychology, sociology, family studies, communication, nursing, and other disciplines. The book will also serve as a text in advanced courses on divorce, marriage and the family, and close relationships.

ATTRIBUTIONS, ACCOUNTS AND CLOSE RELATIONSHPIS documents attributional and accounts approaches to the study of close relationships. Issues of focus include communication pro- blems in marriage and their relationship with causal attri- butions; marital violence and its relationship with early learning experience; ego-defensive attribution and excuse- making in couples and with respect to medical problems; and attributions about transitions in relationships.

Featuring excerpts of essays collected from over one thousand young adults while in the throes of divorce, this book paints a picture of the pain and the hope shown by the storytellers. By framing the narratives with an analysis of the most recent divorce literature, the authors provide readers with a greater and more vivid understanding of the effects of divorce. Challenging the contention that most children will be irretrievably hurt by their parents' divorce, some stories clearly demonstrate the strength and resilience many have learned in dealing with a divorce in the family. Emphasis is placed on how hope about the possibilities of having close relationships - as well as a willingness to create stronger families in their own lives - represent abiding motivations in this sample of young people. The authors hope that the use of the raw input of respondents will make the experiences more realistic and ultimately help people deal with major loss events in their lives. Highlights of the new edition include: A new chapter (7) that demonstrates the messiness of divorce (infidelity, dysfunctional interactions, multiple marriages/relationships, and the financial expense), the fading stigma of divorce, the latest divorce rates, the increased average age of first time marriages, and the recent hook-up phenomenon wherein young people are showing a reluctance to commitment Updated throughout with the most current demographic data, new findings from the top researchers in the field, and the latest intervention programs A review of the Divorce Variability and Fluidity Model (DVFM) that helps predict variability in adjusting to divorce More suggestions to help children adapt to divorce, including material on parenting education classes and mediation as a method for easing the process A list of readings and suggested websites for further review More tables and graphs to summarize key concepts. An ideal supplement for courses on divorce, family studies, close relationships, and loss and trauma taught in human development and family studies, and clinical, counseling, and social psychology, as well as communication, social work, and sociology, these engaging stories also appeal to practitioners and those interested in the effects of divorce in general.

This volume provides a statement of a new theory of how committed romantic partners can maintain and enhance their close relationships over an extended period. It blends the latest relationship scholarship on closeness with practical advice and comparison of minding with several other major theories of how to maintain closeness. Minding is a package of reciprocal thought, feeling, and behavior and involves components of behavior aimed at knowing and being known by one's partner, attribution about one's partner and the relationship, respect, acceptance, and a never ending commitment to the process.

In the past 10 years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of theoretical and empirical investigations into the maintenance and enhancement of close, romantic relationships. This literature targets the everyday behaviors, expressions of love, and cognitive styles that characterize such relationships. Chapters provide a sampling of the expanse of topics in the domain of how clinical scholars and practitioners address the timely topic of maintaining and enhancing close romantic relationships, including marriage. A distinguished group of scholars and therapists discuss specific problems, such as alcoholism and therapeutic interventions, such as insight therapy. Topics include maintenance issues relevant to: depression, anxiety disorders, the role of children in affecting close relationships, how premarital therapy may serve as an antidote to early relationship problems, forgiveness, remarriage issues, and peer marriage. This volume is intended for practitioners in the field of close romantic relationships, such as marriage, family and relationship therapists, and clinicians.

Featuring excerpts of essays collected from over one thousand young adults while in the throes of divorce, this book paints a picture of the pain and the hope shown by the storytellers. By framing the narratives with an analysis of the most recent divorce literature, the authors provide readers with a greater and more vivid understanding of the effects of divorce. Challenging the contention that most children will be irretrievably hurt by their parents' divorce, some stories clearly demonstrate the strength and resilience many have learned in dealing with a divorce in the family. Emphasis is placed on how hope about the possibilities of having close relationships - as well as a willingness to create stronger families in their own lives - represent abiding motivations in this sample of young people. The authors hope that the use of the raw input of respondents will make the experiences more realistic and ultimately help people deal with major loss events in their lives. Highlights of the new edition include: A new chapter (7) that demonstrates the messiness of divorce (infidelity, dysfunctional interactions, multiple marriages/relationships, and the financial expense), the fading stigma of divorce, the latest divorce rates, the increased average age of first time marriages, and the recent hook-up phenomenon wherein young people are showing a reluctance to commitment Updated throughout with the most current demographic data, new findings from the top researchers in the field, and the latest intervention programs A review of the Divorce Variability and Fluidity Model (DVFM) that helps predict variability in adjusting to divorce More suggestions to help children adapt to divorce, including material on parenting education classes and mediation as a method for easing the process A list of readings and suggested websites for further review More tables and graphs to summarize key concepts. An ideal supplement for courses on divorce, family studies, close relationships, and loss and trauma taught in human development and family studies, and clinical, counseling, and social psychology, as well as communication, social work, and sociology, these engaging stories also appeal to practitioners and those interested in the effects of divorce in general.

Throughout our lives, we are influenced by the sensation of loss. Whether implicit or obvious, the impact of this sense of loss affects our daily thinking and behavior. This new text provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of loss via exploration into three major types of loss: loss of important relationships (divorce or perhaps the dissolution of important relationships and friendships); losses that damage who we are, our self-esteem (loss of employment); and losses resulting from victimization (being the target of violence or prejudice; loss of home in a natural disaster).

Students of sociology, theology, and family studies will find this text of key interest. Moreover, professionals in these fields, including the fields of trauma and loss, will appreciate the thorough literature review, practical language, clinical interventions, and case highlights.