A General Overview

In this chapter the significant reciprocal influences of culture and romantic experiences during adolescence are considered. The meaning of culture in relation to the concepts of ethnicity and race, cross-cultural perspectives, reciprocity between culture and romantic behavior, the influence of romantic experience on identity, and the significance of developmental timing for romantic experience are considered. The relevance of these considerations for research and clinical intervention applications is also discussed. In this chapter, culture is defined as a group's particular adaptation to a social environment that is characterized by a shared psychological reality or worldview; shared customs, language, and practices; and the general protection offered by belonging to a distinct group (Coates & Vietze, 1996; Markus, Kitayama, & Heiman, 1997). Culture and romantic experiences are reciprocally related such that some experiences teach adolescents about romance. These can be referred to as cultured experiences because they are largely based on accepted mores and practices from the past. The cultured experiences of adolescents acculturate them about what romance is and what its significance should be for them. Adolescent romantic experiences and perspectives probably also influence and modify the romantic cultural practices of a society over time.