ABSTRACT
Anthropologists and evolutionary psychologists argue that human beings are designed to form romantic pair bonds (Fisher, 1992; Schmitt, 2008 ). A majority of heterosexual and homosexual people alike seek a committed relationship, as well as legal or at least social affi rmation of their couplehood (Regan, 2008 ). The formation of these couple unions triggers the interest of family scholars. Such unions mark the beginning of one’s family of orientation and are infl uenced by experiences in one’s family of origin. Cate and Lloyd ( 1992 ) name courtship as the “fi rst (and perhaps most crucial) stage in the family life cycle” (p. 2). An assumption inherent in most premarital relationship research is that relationships do not begin on their wedding day. Indeed, a couple’s interaction does more to constitute a mate relationship than does the presence of a marriage license.
