Confronting Relationship Challenges

Also with Melanie K. Barnes, Sheryl Perlmutter Bowen, Heather R. Carlson, Marilyn Coleman, Lawrence H. Ganong, Jeffrey Haig, John H. Harvey, Renee F. Lyons, Darlene Meade, Paula Michal-Johnson, Suzanne M. Retzinger, James T. West, Jacqueline P. Wiseman, Katherine D. Wright & Paul H. Wright "Highly recommended." --Mark Waldman in Contemporary Psychology "Each chapter of Confronting Relationship Challenges has something new to say. . . . The chapters offer rich opportunities for researchers to expand their investigations and their conceptualizations. . . . This book will challenge the reader to enhanced understanding and increased commitment to appropriate intervening when others (and ourselves) are overwhelmed by the 'dark side' of relationships." --Judith L. Fischer in Journal of Marriage and the Family Addressing the difficult side of relationships, Confronting Relationship Challenges moves forward in the Understanding Relationship Processes Series by taking an honest look at what can go wrong with relationships and highlighting some of the challenges partners might face while struggling to comprehend their connectedness to one another. Edited by Steve Duck and Julia Wood, discussion in this volume moves away from any implication that relationships are only good and delightful. Even in the very closest of relationships, pain and suffering are inevitable and the contributing scholars examine the management and tolerance skills required of participants in order to construct meaningful interpretations of themselves, each other, and the relationship as all components evolve and interact in continually changing contexts. Relationship challenges examined in this book include conflict, enemies, the reconfiguring "family" after a divorce, codependency, interpersonal violence, HIV/AIDS, chronic illness, and managing grief over a partner's death. Students and scholars in interpersonal communication, social psychology, clinical/counseling psychology, family studies, psychology and sociology will find this volume to be a valuable resource.

Table of Contents:
For Better, For Worse, For Richer, For Poorer - Steve Duck and Julia T Wood The Rough and the Smooth of Relationships Shame and Anger in Personal Relationships - Suzanne M Retzinger Having and Managing Enemies - Jacqueline P Wiseman and Steve Duck A Very Challenging Relationship Family Reconfiguring Following Divorce - Marilyn Coleman and Lawrence H Ganong Codependency - Paul H Wright and Katherine D Wright Personality Syndrome or Relational Process? Understanding How the Dynamics of Ideology Influence Violence between Intimates - James T West HIV/AIDS - Sheryl Perlmutter Bowen and Paula Michal-Johnson A Crucible for Understanding the Dark Side of Sexual Interactions Painting a New Face on Relationships - Renee F Lyons and Darlene Meade Relationship Remodelling in Response to the Challenges to Chronic Illness Held Captive by Their Memories - John H Harvey et al Managing Grief in Relationships