Research in Romantic Relationships/Attraction

[Evelet]

I for one am very interested and fascinated with romantic relationships. I would like to know if anyone knows of any graduate programs that happens to do any research in this area? I'm looking to apply to schools with doctoral programs in this field.

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[psychstudent601]

I know Dr. Phil Shaver at UC Davis looks at attachment theory and romantic relationships. The study I'm working on for him is not related to it specifically, but I know it was developed from a study that he did with couples in relationships. He tends to look at how attachment as children affects us as adults in relationships.

 

[EverHopeful]

There are actually a lot of labs out there that research this and it is a wide field. I would recommend reading current literature to see what aspects of relationship research you like the most. For instance, do you want to look at divorce prevention, relationship transitions (e.g. getting married, having kids), couples and stress, romantic relationships of a specific culture or group, etc. There is a wide variety of research going on.
Off the top of my head though, there is University of Denver, Georgia, Texas A & M, Hawaii, Rochester and Maimi. But those aren't even quarter of what's out there.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

For people interested in the other 50% that tried and failed at marriage....

Dr. James Bray at Baylor does research looking at divorce, blended families, etc.

 

[PhDToBe]

Ana Bridges at Arkansas does research on the effects of porn on relationship satisfaction....if you're interested in that, haha

 

[cara susanna]

Ooh, that sounds interesting.

 

[bebex12]

I am also interested in studying intimate relationships. I applied this year to doctoral programs, but it's not looking too hopeful. But Stony Brook has a Relationships Lab that incorporates the work of several professors there who study romantic relationships.

 

[UhOh]

At U Maine, the clinical director of that program, don't remember his name but he's in that field.

 

[Psych2011]

UCLA:
Thomas Bradbury (focuses all his research on relationships - mainly intimate relationships)
Andrew Christensen (couples in general and couples therapy in particular)
Benjamin Karney (a social psych faculty)

There are more but these three are the ones that came to mind right away...

 

[wigflip]

UCLA:

http://www.irsp.ucla.edu/index.html
but note that Anne Peplau is retired/retiring

edit: crap. looks like IRSP got defunded.

 

[Ettevi05]

Texas Tech, Susan Hendrick and I believe her husband does the same thing. I took her class with a TA and it was really challenging, the only B I got in my psych career there.

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/psy/people/shendrick.php