The Psychology of Love and Hate in Intimate Relationships

Social psychology has made great advancements in understanding how our romantic relationships function and to some extent, dissolve. However, the social and behavioral sciences in much of western scholarship often focus exclusively on the more positive aspects of intimate relationships--and less so on more controversial or unconventional aspects. The goal of this volume is to explore and illuminate some of these underrepresented aspects: aspects such as non-monogamy, female orgasm, sadism, and hate, that often function alongside love in intimate relationships. Ultimately, by looking at intimate relationships in this way, the volume contributes to and advocates for a more holistic and comprehensive view of intimate relationships.  

Throughout the volume, contributors from social, clinical, and evolutionary psychology cover love and hate from a variety of (sometimes opposing) perspectives. The first section, covers love and the changing landscape of intimate relationships. Its chapters review the current literature and research of understudied topics like non-monogamy, female orgasm, sexual fantasies, and the viewpoint of love as something other than positive. The second section explores hate and how hate can operate in intimate relationships--for example, the appearance of sadistic behavior and debates the nature of hate as either a motivation or emotion. The volume concludes, by looking at ways in which the appearance of hate in relationships can be dealt with and overcome successfully. Taken together, these two sections reflect the full variety of experiences within intimate relationships.  With the aim of exploring how love and hate can-and frequently do-work together, The Psychology of Love and Hate in Intimate Relationships is a fascinating psychological exploration of intimate relationships in modern times. It is an invaluable resource to academics and students specializing in psychology, gender, and sociology, including clinicians and therapists, and all those interested in increasing our knowledge of intimate relationships.    

List of contents

1. Introduction.- Part I: Love.- Chapter 2. Unweaving the rainbow of human sexuality.- Chapter 3. The Importance and Meaning of Sexual Fantasies in Intimate Relationships.- Chapter 4. The Science of Female Orgasm: Exploring the Gender Gap.- Chapter 5. Passionate Love: Inspired by Angels or Demons?- Part II. Hate.- Chapter 6. Chapter 6. Your Pain, My Gain: The Interpersonal Context of Sadism.- Chapter 7. Hate: Theory and Implications for Intimate Relationships.- Chapter 8. Hate in Intimate Relationships as a Protective Emotion.- Chapter 9. We Hate what we Fear: Interpersonal Hate from a Clinical Perspective.

About the author

Dr. Katherine Aumer is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Hawaii Pacific University, in Honolulu, HI. She received her PhD from the University of Texas, Austin. She has conducted research in the areas of emotion, relationship satisfaction, and racial identity. She is currently conducting research on sexual identity and personality in long term relationships. 

Summary

Social psychology has made great advancements in understanding how our romantic relationships function and to some extent, dissolve. However, the social and behavioral sciences in much of western scholarship often focus exclusively on the more positive aspects of intimate relationships--and less so on more controversial or unconventional aspects. The goal of this volume is to explore and illuminate some of these underrepresented aspects: aspects such as non-monogamy, female orgasm, sadism, and hate, that often function alongside love in intimate relationships. Ultimately, by looking at intimate relationships in this way, the volume contributes to and advocates for a more holistic and comprehensive view of intimate relationships.  

Throughout the volume, contributors from social, clinical, and evolutionary psychology cover love and hate from a variety of (sometimes opposing) perspectives. The first section, covers love and the changing landscape of intimate relationships. Its chapters review the current literature and research of understudied topics like non-monogamy, female orgasm, sexual fantasies, and the viewpoint of love as something other than positive. The second section explores hate and how hate can operate in intimate relationships--for example, the appearance of sadistic behavior and debates the nature of hate as either a motivation or emotion. The volume concludes, by looking at ways in which the appearance of hate in relationships can be dealt with and overcome successfully. Taken together, these two sections reflect the full variety of experiences within intimate relationships.  With the aim of exploring how love and hate can-and frequently do-work together, The Psychology of Love and Hate in Intimate Relationships is a fascinating psychological exploration of intimate relationships in modern times. It is an invaluable resource to academics and students specializing in psychology, gender, and sociology, including clinicians and therapists, and all those interested in increasing our knowledge of intimate relationships.    

Additional text

“The chapters are very interesting and consistently well written. Each will be useful to graduate students and researchers interested in a specific subdomain. Where relevant literature has accumulated, the contributors have done a good job of representing what is known and highlighting areas where inquiry should proceed.” (Brian H. Stagner, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 62 (6), April, 2017)

“Psychoanalysts and existential psychologists have long theorized the ‘coexistence of love and hate’ in intimate relationships. … the goal of this title is to gather the work of those who have done so. … the work is split into two parts: one section on love, and the other on hate. … Summing Up: Recommended. All readers.” (J. Ostenson, Choice, Vol. 54 (5), January, 2017)

Report

"The chapters are very interesting and consistently well written. Each will be useful to graduate students and researchers interested in a specific subdomain. Where relevant literature has accumulated, the contributors have done a good job of representing what is known and highlighting areas where inquiry should proceed." (Brian H. Stagner, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 62 (6), April, 2017)

"Psychoanalysts and existential psychologists have long theorized the 'coexistence of love and hate' in intimate relationships. ... the goal of this title is to gather the work of those who have done so. ... the work is split into two parts: one section on love, and the other on hate. ... Summing Up: Recommended. All readers." (J. Ostenson, Choice, Vol. 54 (5), January, 2017)

Product details

• Assisted by: Katherin Aumer (Editor), Katherine Aumer (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2018
• EAN: 9783319818559
• ISBN: 978-3-31-981855-9
• No. of pages: 184
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 235 mm x 10 mm
• Weight: 307 g
• Illustrations: X, 184 p. 8 illus. in color.
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Theoretical psychology; B, Gender Studies, Gender Studies: Gruppen, personality, Social Psychology, Behavioral Science and Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology, Personality and Differential Psychology, Sex (Psychology), Psychology of Gender and Sexuality, Psychology of gender, Gender expression, Sexual psychology, Sexual Behavior, Behavioral Neuroscience, Psychology: sexual behaviour