ABSTRACT
As we have seen in earlier chapters, some relationships pass beyond initial attraction and liking and continue to develop over time until they reach a state of relative permanence. Of all the types of established partnerships that exist, none has received as much scientifi c attention as the marital relationship. In this chapter we examine mate choice, marriage, and other forms of long-term romantic relationships. Because marriage historically has been viewed as a heterosexual relationship, much of the existing literature-and consequently much of the material presented in this chapter-is limited to the experiences and outcomes of heterosexual married couples.
