ABSTRACT
In a personal relationship, one actor's behavior is shaped by the actions of the other. Moreover, people interact with one another as unique individuals rather than as occupants of particular statuses. In addition to studying the nature of people's friendships, and their romantic relationships, social psychologists have examined how personal relationships develop and progress. There is a consensus within this literature that personal relationships have a trajectory that is consistent across individuals. Therefore, various models of the development and maintenance of personal relationships have been proposed. The hookup culture (sex on college campus) is rooted in the changing societal norms pertaining to gender and sexuality that began in the 1960s, and it has altered the way that many young adults approach dating. This chapter throughout uses the terms "passionate love" and "romantic love" interchangeably and it discusses recent trends in relationships resulting from changing attitudes and behaviors at the macro level, as well as the advent of new technologies.
