ABSTRACT
Both students of psychology and the average layperson commonly agree that attraction and intimate relationships are among the most inherently interesting topics within the field of social psychology. This chapter focuses respectively on initial attraction and ongoing relationship processes. It highlights some of the promising directions for current research and presents an overview of recent noteworthy studies. Overall, the physical aspects of attraction have been quite well researched to date. However, many other questions regarding the significance of physical appearance in attraction still generate discussion. Self-disclosure, or the process of providing information about one's self to another person, occurs throughout the course of a relationship. Originally, much of the research on proximity and familiarity focused on how participants' day- to-day contact with others predicts their relationship outcomes. Finally, the chapter closes with a brief conclusion that describes current trends and concerns within the field.
