ABSTRACT
Change is the frequent subject of poetry, parables, and popular culture. Changes in close relationships can stem from a variety of sources, including individual growth, relationship development, or external circumstances. For example, romantic associations evolve as the individuals within them develop emotionally and intellectually or experience shifts in their life circumstances. In addition, romances follow their own trajectory of development, as partners build a shared history and increase interdependence by making a mutual commitment, choosing to cohabit or marry, or having children together. Finally, relationships can change because external forces, ranging from aging parents to economic recession, alter the social context within which romantic partnerships exist.
