Chapter Overview

Love and companionship are primary motives for marriage in our impersonal society. Companionship in marriage makes a couple's relationship more satisfying--although, for a variety of reasons, it does not always develop. There are advantages and disadvantages in the three different styles of companionship--joint, parallel, and segregated. People differ in their need for closeness, which is not the same as possessiveness, as well as in their need for time alone. Some people experience loneliness, which can occur even when not alone, when one does not have the kind of social relations desired. Loneliness results from situations as well as from personality attributes. Individuals and families need balanced recreation, including physical and nonphysical activities. Interpersonal competence in general social relationships can be a predictor of interpersonal competence in marriage. Vacations can be positive or destructive for family members; television watching and computer usage in excess can be destructive. Having friends is important to psychological and social well-being, but it can be difficult to make friends in cities. Women tend to develop friendships based on emotional sharing, and men base their friendships on sharing of interests and activities. Spousal jealousy can occur in opposite-sex relationships.