ABSTRACT
At one time or another, most of us have been cognizant of ourselves behaving differently around someone close to us, whether a romantic partner, friend, or parent. When Joe is with his domineering parents, he shifts away from his usually assertive demeanor toward a more submissive one. With her best friend, Sarah “lets her hair down,” revealing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors reserved just for this friend. Indeed, spouses often bring out the best (or worst) in each other. All of these instances suggest the special nature of people's actions in relation to close others.
