ABSTRACT
Rules form one of the main features in our conceptual model of situations and of relationships and are regarded as the means by which the behaviour of interactors in a social situation is coordinated so that goals can be attained. Clients for social skills training and marital therapy would often like to be able to cope with their relationships better. There are a variety of reasons for studying relationships, some theoretical, some practical. This chapter discusses two sets of relationship skills—marriage, and the provision of social support. Rules of marriage and descent are regarded as functional by anthropologists: For example, exogamy creates links between different families. Traditional theory says that the main biological function of marriage is the production care and socialization of children; however, according to several recent American studies, married couples are actually happier before and after they have children in the home.
