ABSTRACT
Research has been scarce with respect to cross-cultural variations in the assumptions and behavioral patterns related to relational maintenance. The expression of intimacy appears to be more common in individualistic cultures. For instance, M. Argyle, M. C. Henderson, M. Bond, Y. Iizuka, and A. Contarello reported that intimacy is more strongly related to marital satisfaction in individualistic cultures than in collectivistic cultures. Individuals in collectivistic cultures often seek social status and financial security from their marriage, whereas individuals in individualistic cultures place more value in love and compatibility. Some cross-cultural studies found that relational quality is largely determined by situational factors in collectivistic cultures. In particular, culturally specific features and principles of eui-ri, jung, noon-chi, and yon function to guarantee the stability of personal relationships. At the same time, they appear to countermand the need for relational partners to work at maintaining their relationships.
