ABSTRACT
At the outset of this book, my colleagues and I sought the answer to a simple question: When we examine the literature on personal relationships, what predominant theme do we find regarding cultural value orientations as reflected in personal relationship processes? As the preceding five chapters attest, the answer to that question depends upon which major ethnic group is under consideration. When Anglos are the ethnic group under consideration—or when ethnicity is not explicitly acknowledged at all—one primary theme that emerges is individualism (Bellah et al., 1985; Dion & Dion, 1993; Gaines, 1995b). When African Americans are the ethnic group under consideration, one primary theme that emerges is collectivism (Asante, 1981; Gaines, 1994a, 1995b; White, 1984; White & Parham, 1990). When Latinas/os are the ethnic group under consideration, one primary theme that emerges is familism (Gaines, 1994b, 1995b; Marin & Marin, 1991; Mirande, 1977). When Asian Americans are the ethnic group under consideration, one primary theme that emerges is spiritualism (Cook & Kono, 1977; Kitano & Daniels, 1988; Min, 1995). Finally, when interethnic relationships are under consideration, a primary theme that emerges is romanticism (Gaines, Rios et al., 1996; Porterfield, 1978; Rosenblatt et al., 1995).
