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The greening of relationship science
1Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA. bersc001@maroon.tc.umn.edu
The American Psychologist
|April 28, 1999
Summary
A new science of interpersonal relationships offers significant benefits for psychology, integrating diverse fields and enhancing real-world applications. Overcoming individualistic perspectives and studying external influences are key to realizing its full potential.
Area of Science:
- Interdisciplinary and international relationship science.
- Integrates social, behavioral, and biological sciences with psychology.
Background:
- Psychology has traditionally focused on individualistic orientations.
- A need exists for a more integrated and applicable psychological science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the beneficial implications of relationship science for psychology.
- To discuss the potential of relationship science to bridge gaps and inform society.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual review and synthesis of existing knowledge.
- Discussion of the multidisciplinary nature of relationship science.
Main Results:
- Relationship science can unite various scientific disciplines and psychological subdisciplines.
- It has the potential to connect researchers with practitioners and extend psychological knowledge to daily life.
- Relationship science can inform national policy and public concerns.
Conclusions:
- Realizing the potential of relationship science requires moving beyond traditional individualistic psychology.
- Further research is needed on affect's impact on cognition and environmental influences on relationships.