Book contents
- On-Again, Off-Again Relationships
- Advances in Personal Relationships
- On-Again, Off-Again Relationships
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Description and Prevalence of On-Again/Off-Again Relationships
- 2 Differences from Non-Cyclical Relationships
- 3 Explaining On-Again/Off-Again Relationships
- 4 Types and Trajectories of On-Again/Off-Again Relationships
- 5 Breakups, Renewals, and In-Between
- 6 Conceptualizing (In)Stability
- 7 Practical Applications
- 8 Research Agenda
- Epilogue
- Appendix Description of Samples
- Notes
- References
- Index
4 - Types and Trajectories of On-Again/Off-Again Relationships
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2019
- On-Again, Off-Again Relationships
- Advances in Personal Relationships
- On-Again, Off-Again Relationships
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Description and Prevalence of On-Again/Off-Again Relationships
- 2 Differences from Non-Cyclical Relationships
- 3 Explaining On-Again/Off-Again Relationships
- 4 Types and Trajectories of On-Again/Off-Again Relationships
- 5 Breakups, Renewals, and In-Between
- 6 Conceptualizing (In)Stability
- 7 Practical Applications
- 8 Research Agenda
- Epilogue
- Appendix Description of Samples
- Notes
- References
- Index
Summary
Relationships research has used typologies and dimensional approaches to characterize relationships. Research has similarly sought to characterize on-off relationships using types, dimensions, and trajectories. Five types of on-off relationships are reviewed; some showing constructive patterns or closure, whereas others exhibit incongruencies, and even coercion and control. On-off relationships also exhibit varying trajectories. For example, despite inherently experiencing multiple breakups and renewals, only half of on-off partners reported fluctuations in their commitment to the relationship. In addition, the different types and trajectories suggest that fluctuations in relationship dynamics might not necessarily be distressing to these partners. Overall, these various characterizations of cyclical relationships show they follow a diversity of paths that entail different dynamics.
- Type
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- Information
- On-Again, Off-Again RelationshipsNavigating (In)Stability in Romantic Relationships, pp. 74 - 94Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019