The New Science of Intimate Relationships [Paperback]

Garth J. O. Fletcher (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 063122078X | ISBN-13: 978-0631220787 | Publication Date: December 15, 2011 | Edition: 1

Written by one of the world's leading authorities on close relationships, this accessible study is one of the first to look seriously at what science can tell us about love, sex and friendship.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With impeccable scholarship, sharp wit, and a beautiful writing style, Garth Fletcher showcases, explores, and debates some of the most important principles, ideas, and assumptions that define the new science of intimate relationships. Both experts and laypersons alike can glean important, new insights from each thought-provoking chapter. This wonderful book is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the multifaceted reasons for how and why sexual relationships are initiated, developed, maintained, and sometimes terminated across the lifespan." Jeffrey Simpson, Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M University, and co-editor of Attachment Theory and Close Relationships and Evolutionary Social Psychology

"This is an important, fascinating, and delightful book. Garth Fletcher offers the reader an up-to-date summary of the most interesting and important work on human sexual relationships, and he pulls these pieces together with a grand and profound understanding of how -- and why -- people carry on intimate relationships. The book is so beautifully written that one moves easily from chapter to chapter, learning something new on almost every page." Roy Baumeister, Professor of Psychology at Case Western Reserve University, and author of The Social Dimension of Sex and Evil and Inside Human Violence and Cruelty

"In this lively new book, Garth Fletcher has provided a much needed interdisciplinary integration of the diverse scientific fields that study intimate relationships. Researchers will find their work ably presented in a volume that is scholarly, fiercely intelligent, and even-handed. Students and lay readers will also enjoy the many insights and discoveries so engagingly presented in this fascinating book." Letitia Anne Peplau, Professor of Psychology at UCLA, and co-author of Social Psychology (10th. Edition) and co-editor of Gender, Culture, and Ethnicity: Current Research about Men and Women

“Garth Fletcher succeeds brilliantly at reaching just the right balance of rigorous scholarship and great storytelling… What I enjoyed most about this book was not only the fascinating tour of current research and theory, but also the sheer joy of science that underlies each chapter…a delightful and important book.” Associate Professor Nancy Collins, University of California at Santa Barbara, ISSPR Bulletin

A superb book…engagingly written, insightful, richly detailed, and admirably comprehensive. It is a joy to read. Choice

"The New Science of Intimate Relationships is a bold attempt to cover the landscape in a way that will appeal to lay readers, students, and researchers alike. Overall, Fletcher does a good job walking the fine line among these audiences... all readers will gain insights into their intimate relationship minds." Mark R. Leary, Wake Forest University, The Human Nature Review, Volume 3, 2003

Review

"With impeccable scholarship, sharp wit, and a beautiful writing style, Garth Fletcher showcases, explores, and debates some of the most important principles, ideas, and assumptions that define the new science of intimate relationships. Both experts and laypersons alike can glean important, new insights from each thought-provoking chapter. This wonderful book is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the multifaceted reasons for how and why sexual relationships are initiated, developed, maintained, and sometimes terminated across the lifespan." Jeffrey Simpson, Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M University, and co-editor of Attachment Theory and Close Relationships and Evolutionary Social Psychology

"This is an important, fascinating, and delightful book. Garth Fletcher offers the reader an up-to-date summary of the most interesting and important work on human sexual relationships, and he pulls these pieces together with a grand and profound understanding of how -- and why -- people carry on intimate relationships. The book is so beautifully written that one moves easily from chapter to chapter, learning something new on almost every page." Roy Baumeister, Professor of Psychology at Case Western Reserve University, and author of The Social Dimension of Sex and Evil and Inside Human Violence and Cruelty

"In this lively new book, Garth Fletcher has provided a much needed interdisciplinary integration of the diverse scientific fields that study intimate relationships. Researchers will find their work ably presented in a volume that is scholarly, fiercely intelligent, and even-handed. Students and lay readers will also enjoy the many insights and discoveries so engagingly presented in this fascinating book." Letitia Anne Peplau, Professor of Psychology at UCLA, and co-author of Social Psychology (10th. Edition) and co-editor of Gender, Culture, and Ethnicity: Current Research about Men and Women

“Garth Fletcher succeeds brilliantly at reaching just the right balance of rigorous scholarship and great storytelling… What I enjoyed most about this book was not only the fascinating tour of current research and theory, but also the sheer joy of science that underlies each chapter…a delightful and important book.” Associate Professor Nancy Collins, University of California at Santa Barbara, ISSPR Bulletin

A superb book…engagingly written, insightful, richly detailed, and admirably comprehensive. It is a joy to read. Choice

"The New Science of Intimate Relationships is a bold attempt to cover the landscape in a way that will appeal to lay readers, students, and researchers alike. Overall, Fletcher does a good job walking the fine line among these audiences... all readers will gain insights into their intimate relationship minds." Mark R. Leary, Wake Forest University, The Human Nature Review, Volume 3, 2003 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (December 15, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 063122078X
• ISBN-13: 978-0631220787
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,138,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars real science about real life, March 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Science of Intimate Relationships (Paperback)

With so many books that just recycle the same cliches about relationships on the market (think: Mars/Venus), it it can be amazing to find one that actually has new things to say. This may be because the author is not some self-appointed expert but a veteran scientist who has published extensively in the research literature in social psychology. This book describes not just the conclusions but the scientific research on which the conclusions are based. The reader will learn a lot about psychology in general as well as about relationships. The topics include everything from flirting to passion to long-term marriages, and some of the conclusions are surprising. Finally, everything the book says is rooted in a fundamental view of human nature based on modern research in evolutionary psychology. This is a fun read and you will learn something too.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for social scientists, May 20, 2002

By 

Lorne Campbell (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Science of Intimate Relationships (Paperback)

Garth Fletcher has managed to write a book that is both highly informative and entertaining. With a clear writing style that is comparable to Matt Ridley, Fletcher accurately describes the current state of affairs in research on intimate relationships, never fearing to tackle controversial issues (and there are many). As a true social scientist, Fletcher weaves together various theoretical perspectives, and discusses the importance of evolution in the understanding of why people seek to form intimate relationships. While reading the book I found myself eager to turn the page, wondering what mysteries lurked ahead. Reading this book is time well spent.