ABSTRACT
Recognizing the critical importance of affectionate communication in relationship development, Kory Floyd and Mark Morman (1998) developed a means of measuring this concept. This scale, termed the Affectionate Communication Index (ACI), is a 19-item self-report multidimensional measure that indexes the degree to which a specific relationship is distinguished by verbal, nonverbal, and supportive indicators of affectionate communication. In concert with the development of the Affectionate Communication Index, Floyd (2006) also conceptualized a theory of affection termed the Affection Exchange Theory. The motivation to engage in affectionate communication rests on the desire to share relational resources and thus contribute to others’ (particularly children’s) viability and suitability as relational partners and parents. The ACI is an improvement over previous efforts that were limited in their operationalization of affectionate behaviors, relied solely on direct observation, and were quite labor intensive. The authors conducted a series of preliminary studies to validate both the conceptualization and measurement of affectionate communication.
