Perception of physical attractiveness: mechanisms involved in the maintenance of romattic relationships

Research on romantic relationships traditionally has focused on processes underlying either relationship initiation (e.g., Berscheid, 1985; Byrne, 1971; Duck & Gilmour, 1981; Newcomb, 1961) or, more recently, relationship dissolution (e.g., Baxter, 1984; Berg & McQuinn, 1986; Duck, 1982; Simpson, 1987). Somewhat less attention has been devoted to examining processes that may serve relationship-maintenance functions (Byrne & Murnen, 1988; for exceptions, see Dindia & Baxter, 1987; Johnson & Rusbult, 1989; Rusbult, 1983).