ABSTRACT
People across the globe describe their personal relationships as the most important part of their lives, and the quality of personal relationships is one of the best predictors of overall life satisfaction and well-being. Customs and norms associated with close relationships vary significantly depending on the culture. Chapter 7 discusses how cultures differ regarding what is considered appropriate in attraction and mate selection, friendship, in the expression of love and sexuality, the forms of marriage and choice to divorce. Relationships can no longer be defined in traditional ways given the rise of increasingly varied lifestyles and relationships. The ‘And So Forth’ section of this chapter focuses on online intimacy and dating and computer-mediated relationships.
