Interpersonal relationship

In social psychology, an interpersonal relation (or interpersonal relationship) describes a social association, connection, or affiliation between two or more persons. It overlaps significantly with the concept of social relations, which are the fundamental unit of analysis within the social sciences. Relations vary in degrees of intimacy, self-disclosure, duration, reciprocity, and power distribution. The main themes or trends of the interpersonal relations are: family, kinship, friendship, love, marriage, business, employment, clubs, neighborhoods, ethical values, support and solidarity. Interpersonal relations may be regulated by law, custom, or mutual agreement, and form the basis of social groups and societies. They appear when people communicate or act with each other within specific social contexts,^[1] and they thrive on equitable and reciprocal compromises.^[2]

Interdisciplinary analysis of relationships draws heavily upon the other social sciences, including, but not limited to: anthropology, linguistics, sociology, economics, political science, communication, mathematics, social work, and cultural studies. This scientific analysis had evolved during the 1990s and has become "relationship science",^[3] through the research done by Ellen Berscheid and Elaine Hatfield. This interdisciplinary science attempts to provide evidence-based conclusions through the use of data analysis.

^ Ye, Jinhui; Ye, Xiaoting (4 November 2020). "Adolescents' interpersonal relationships, self-consistency, and congruence: Life meaning as a mediator". Social Behavior and Personality. 48 (11): 1–11. doi:10.2224/sbp.9428. S2CID 226526839.
^ Molm, Linda D.; Schaefer, David R.; Collett, Jessica L. (2007). "The Value of Reciprocity". Social Psychology Quarterly. 70 (2): 199–217. doi:10.1177/019027250707000208. JSTOR 20141780. S2CID 146252068.
^ Berscheid, Ellen (1999). "The greening of relationship science". American Psychologist. 54 (4): 260–266. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.54.4.260. PMID 10217995.

[1] Ye, Jinhui; Ye, Xiaoting (4 November 2020). "Adolescents' interpersonal relationships, self-consistency, and congruence: Life meaning as a mediator". Social Behavior and Personality. 48 (11): 1–11. doi:10.2224/sbp.9428. S2CID 226526839.

[2] Molm, Linda D.; Schaefer, David R.; Collett, Jessica L. (2007). "The Value of Reciprocity". Social Psychology Quarterly. 70 (2): 199–217. doi:10.1177/019027250707000208. JSTOR 20141780. S2CID 146252068.

[3] Berscheid, Ellen (1999). "The greening of relationship science". American Psychologist. 54 (4): 260–266. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.54.4.260. PMID 10217995.

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