ABSTRACT
A model of affective relationships, those central personal relationships that support human psychological well-being, is presented and a number of empirical studies based on the model are reviewed. The intention is to conceptualize the lifelong development of affective relationships, that is, to describe how and by whom an invariable need for affective interactions is satisfied, with apparent transformations (the extension and replacement of figures, shifts in behavioral modes, and changes with respect to the relative importance of the subfunctions which actualize the need) across time. Using assessing instruments that were specially designed for the model, affective relationships as represented by each individual were measured. The empirical data indicate that there are at least five developmental periods of affective relationships from infancy to old age. Three rules of developmental transformations are suggested; the coherent nature of the relationships through development is stated; and the universality and culture-bound aspects of the theory are discussed.
