The past decade has witnessed an explosion of interest and research on close relationships and social cognition. In both areas, numerous handbooks, textbooks, and journal articles have been published. However, it is the editors' impression that although cognitive theories and concepts have filtered through to research dealing with close relationships, much of this research reflects a relatively untutored understanding of the theoretical and empirical work in social cognition. Conversely, the research literature that provides a more sophisticated perspective on the role of cognition in close relationships typically reveals a relatively limited knowledge of the literature on close relationships. As researchers who have worked in both social cognitive processes and close relationships, Fletcher and Fincham are convinced that each field has much to offer the other. In fact, their book is based on two important postulates: first, that a social cognitive framework offers a valuable resource for developing our understanding of close relationships; and, second, that studying cognition within close relationships has the potential to inform our understanding of basic social cognitive processes.

Contents: Part I:Conceptual Foundations. G.J.O. Fletcher, F. Fincham, Attribution Processes in Close Relationships. C. Scott, R. Furhman, R. Wyer, Information Processing in Close Relationships. L. Miller, S. Read, On the Coherence of Mental Models of Persons and Relationships: A Knowledge Structure Approach. N. Cantor, J. Malley, Life Tasks, Personal Needs, and Close Relationships. T. Bradbury, F. Fincham, A Contextual Model for Advancing the Study of Marital Interaction. Part I:Cognition and Affect. J. Forgas, Affect and Cognition in Close Relationships. J. Fitness, K. Strongman, Affect in Close Relationships. P. Noller, M. Ruzzene, Communication in Marriage: The Influence of Affect and Cognition. G.J.O. Fletcher, L. Kininmonth, Interaction in Close Relationships and Social Cognition. R. Sternberg, A. Beall, How Can We Know What Love Is? An Epistemological Analysis. Part III:Applications and Extensions. C. Surra, T. Bohman, The Development of Close Relationships: A Cognitive Perspective. S. Beach, Social Cognition and the Relationship Repair Process: Toward Better Outcome in Marital Therapy. Part IV:Overview. J. Harvey, T. Orbuch, Cognition in Close Relationships: Overview and Integration.