Abstract

This article consists of two relatively independent parts: Firstly, a comprehensive methodological framework for understanding intimate relationships was proposed through a critical review of the theories and researches on relationship development. Secondly, an empirical analysis of behavioral events occurred in same-sex friendship development was performed during 14 months longitudinally. Most theories and researches on relationship development have focused upon very restricted aspects of interpersonal relationship. It was strongly suggested in this paper, however, that seven aspects of interpersonal relationship, i.e., attraction to the partner, emotional experiences, attitudes toward important psychological objects, behavioral events, cognitions about the present and the future of the relationship, needs, and situational contexts, must be included for understanding the relationship development. We assumed that the relative importance of those aspects in understanding relationship development is determined by intimacy level and unique chracteristics of dyad. The necessity of longitudinal approach to investigate both the interrelationships and the causal links among those aspects was also emphasised. The changes in interpersonal behavioral events, which actually occurred between the best friends during 14 months, were analyzed as a part of the empirical study dealing with the interrelationships among the important aspect of friendship development. 32 behavioral events among 70 behaviors significantly increased as the friendship progressed. Those 32 behavioral events were interpreted as good indices to discriminate the levels of relationship development. The findings also indicated that the association behaviors, characterized by precipitating interpersonal bondage between the friends, have occurred more frequently in the earier period of friendship development than in the later period. In order to clarify the meanings of behavioral changes, three bipolar dimensional analysis of interpersonal behaviors (association-dissociation, love-hostility, and superordination-subordination) were applied to the same behavioral data. The results revealed that the changes in behavioral event during friendship devleopment were explained effectively in terms of the three dimensional model of interpersonal behavior.