ABSTRACT
Something happens to a person when he enters into an intimate relationship. Suddenly, another person has a power to influence him that exceeds that of anyone else in his life. That power is not simply about influencing decisions and behavior; it extends to how he feels. His intimate partner can make him feel good just by being with him, but she also has the power to make him feel very bad. Over time, his partner’s ability to make him feel bad is refined to the point where she may be able to set off his bad feelings with just a look. What is it about intimate relationships that can give someone such power to make people feel so good or so terrible?
