ABSTRACT
Close and intimate relationships are a much desired element of American society. Americans report that satisfying close relationships are necessary for happiness (Berscheid & Reis, 1998), and they spend considerable time, money, and energy seeking to increase their acceptance and love from others. Yet relationships seem to be increasingly problematic in American society. Divorce rates are high, more people than ever live alone, and levels of social connections and social support are declining (Myers, 1999, 2000).
