Minding the Close Relationship: A Theory of Relationship Enhancement

This volume provides a statement of a new theory of how committed romantic partners can maintain and enhance their close relationships over an extended period. It blends the latest relationship scholarship on closeness with practical advice and comparison of minding with several other major theories of how to maintain closeness. Minding is a package of reciprocal thought, feeling, and behavior and involves components of behavior aimed at knowing and being known by one’s partner, attribution about one’s partner and the relationship, respect, acceptance, and a never ending commitment to the process.