Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Social Construction of the Person pp 145–163Cite as

Relationships in the Real World: The Descriptive Psychology Approach to Personal Relationships

  • Chapter

  • 397 Accesses

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Social Psychology ((SSSOC))

Abstract

Just as there is an important sense in which persons construct their lives from the social resources available to them, so also do they construct relationships. In what follows, we shall try to do justice to both the human creativity exhibited in such constructions and to the constraints upon such constructions imposed both by personal limitations and restrictions in opportunity. In doing so, we shall present a framework for understanding personal relationships that draws upon three resources within Descriptive Psychology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aylesworth, L. S. & Ossorio, P. G. (1983). Refugees: Cultural displacement and its effects. In K. E. Davis & R. M. Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology (Vol. 3, pp. 45–93 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthes, R. (1978). A lover’s discourse (R. Howard, Transs.). New York: Hill & Wang. (Original work published 1977 )

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender, J. (1982). Differences in appreciation of behavioral significance and intrin-sicness. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergner, R. M. (1981). The overseer regime: A descriptive and practical study of the obessive-compulsive personality style. In K. E. Davis (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 245–271 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergner, R. M. (1982). Hysterical action, impersonation, and caretaking roles: A descriptive and practical study. In K. E. Davis & T. O. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 233–248 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergner, R. M. (1982). Hysterical action, impersonation, and caretaking roles: A descriptive and practical study. In K. E. Davis & T. O. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 233–248 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billings, A. G., & Moos, R. H. (1982). Social support and functioning among community and clinical groups: A panel model. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 5, 295–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braiker, H. B., & Kelley, H. H. (1979). Conflict in the development of close relationships. In R. L. Burgess & T. L. Huston (Eds.), Social exchange in developing relationships (pp. 135–168 ). New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadhead, W. E., Kaplan, B. H., James, S. A., Wagner, E. H., Schoenbach, V. J., Grimson, R., Heyden, S., Tibblin, G., & Gehlbach, S. H. (1983). The epidemiologic evidence for a relationship between social support and health. American Journal of Epidemiology, 117, 521–537.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buber, M . (1958). I and thou (2nd. ed.). New York: Scribners.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, R. D. (1983). Person-environment fit: Past, present, and future. In C. L. Cooper (Ed.), Stress research (pp. 35–78 ). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M. S., & Mills, J. (1979). Interpersonal attraction in exchange and communal relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 12–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. E., & Brown, G. E. (1984). The role of life events and social support in life satisfaction and health: A longitudinal analysis and critical reformulation. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. E., Heiger, L., & Richburg, J. (1984, July). Care, need, and trust—A passionless conception of love!. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Personal Relationships, Madison, WI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. E., & Todd, M. J. (1982). Friendship and love relationships. In K. E. Davis & T. O. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 79–122 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. E., & Todd, M. J. (1985). Assessing friendships: Prototypes, paradigm eases, and relationship description. In S. Duck & D. Pearlman (Eds.), Understanding personal relationships; Vol 1. Sage series in personal relationships, (pp. 17–37 ) Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. E., Todd, M. J., & Denneny, J. (1984). Personal networks, friendship, love relationships across the life cycle. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohrewend, B. S., & Dohrewend, B. P. (1981). Stressful life events and their context. New York: Prodist.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foa, U. G., & Foa, E. B. (1974). Societal structures of the mind. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gove, W. R., Hughes, M., & Style, C. B. (1983). Does marriage have positive effects on the psychological well being of the individual? Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 122–131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrick, C., Hendrick, S., Foote, F. H., & Slapion-Foote, M. J. (1984). Do men and women love differently? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 1, 177–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kayser, E., Swinger, T., & Cohen, R. L. (1984). Laypersons’ conceptions of social relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 1, 433–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasl, S. V. (1983). Pursuing the link between stressful life experiences and disease: A time for reappraisal. In C. L. Cooper (Ed.), Stress research (pp. 79 - 102 ). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. (1983). Love and commmitment. In H. H. Kelley, E. Berscheid, A. Christensen, J. H. Harvey, T. L. Huston, G. Levinger, E. McClintock, L. A. Peplau, & D. R. Peterson (Eds.), Close relationships (pp. 265–314). San Fransico: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasater, L. (1983). Stress and health in a Colorado coal mining community. In K. E. Davis & R. M. Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology (Vol. 3, pp. 95–118 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lasswell, T. E., & Lasswell, M. E. (1976). “I love you but I’m not in love with you.” Journal of Marriage and Family Counseling, 38, 211–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. A. (1973). Colors of love: An exploration of the ways of loving. Don Mills, Ontario: New Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levinger, G., Rands, M., & Talaber, R. (1977). The assessment and rewardingness of close pair relationships. Unpublished manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Littmann, J. R. (1983). A new formulation of humor. In K. E. Davis & R. M. Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology (Vol. 3, pp. 183–207 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, A. H., Norman, G. R., Streiner, D. L., & Roy, R. G. (1983). The process of social stress: Stable, reciprocal, and mediating relationships. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 160–173.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murstein, B. I., MacDonald, M. G., & Ceretto, M. (1977). A theory of the effect of exchange-orientation on marriage and friendship. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 39, 543–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ossorio, P. G. (1978). Meaning and symbolism (LRI Report No. 15). Whittier, CA & Boulder, CO: Linguistic Research Institute. (Original work published in 1969 as LRI Report No. 10 )

    Google Scholar 

  • Ossorio, P. G. (1981a). Conceptual-notational devices. In K. E. Davis (Ed.), Advances in descriptive psychology (Vol. 1, pp. 83 - 104 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ossorio, P. G. (1981b). Ex post factor: The source of intractable origin problems and their solution (LRI Report No. 28a ). Boulder, CO: Linguistic Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ossorio, P. G. (1983). A multicultural psychology. In K. E. Davis & R. M. Bergner (Eds.), Advances in descriptive psychology (Vol. 3, pp. 13–44 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ossorio, P. G. (1983). A multicultural psychology. In K. E. Davis & R. M. Bergner (Eds.), Advances in descriptive psychology (Vol. 3, pp. 13–44 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, M. K. (1982). Men and women: Partners, lovers, friends. In K. E. Davis & T. O. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in descriptive psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 57–78 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, M. K. (1982). Men and women: Partners, lovers, friends. In K. E. Davis & T. O. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in descriptive psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 57–78 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, M. K. (1982). Men and women: Partners, lovers, friends. In K. E. Davis & T. O. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in descriptive psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 57–78 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, Z. (1973). Liking and loving. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadler, W., Jr. (1969). Existence and love: A new approach in existential phenomenology. New York: Scribners.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapin, C. R. (1980). A status formulation of sex differences. Dissertation Abstracts International 40, 5418B. (University Microfilms No. 80–11304)

    Google Scholar 

  • Silva, J. C. (1983). What actually happens to Jose: Chicano freshmen in a predominantly anglo university. In K. E. Davis & R. M. Bergner (Eds.), Advances in descriptive psychology (Vol. 3, pp. 119–145 ). Greenwich, CT: JAI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steck, L., Levitan, D., McLane, D., & Kelley, H. H. (1982). Care need, and conceptions of love. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 481–491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swanberg, W. A. (1961). Citizen Hearst. New York: Scribners.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1982). Conceptual, methodological, and theoretical problems in studying social support as a buffer against life stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 23, 145–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thoits, P. A. (1983). Main and interactive effects of social support: A response to LaRocco. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24, 92–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, A. W., Ware, J. E., & Donald, C. D. (1981). A model of mental health, life events, and social supports applicable to general populations.Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 22, 324–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wish, M., Deutsch, M. M., & Kaplan, S. J. (1976). Perceived dimensions of interpersonal relations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 409–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, P. H. (1984). Self-referent motivation and the intrinsic quality of friendship. Journal for Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 115–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, P. H. (1985). The acquaintance description form. In S. Duck & D. Pearlman (Eds.), Understanding personal relationships: Vol 1. Sage series in personal relationships. Beverly Hills, CA, Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Keith E. Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mary K. Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Swarthmore College, 19081, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, USA

    Kenneth J. Gergen

  2. Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, 29208, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

    Keith E. Davis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1999 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Davis, K.E., Roberts, M.K. (1999). Relationships in the Real World: The Descriptive Psychology Approach to Personal Relationships. In: Gergen, K.J., Davis, K.E. (eds) The Social Construction of the Person. Springer Series in Social Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5076-0_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5076-0_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9553-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-5076-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation