Learning Objectives

  1. Describe the different ways that relational maintenance has been defined.
  2. Describe the specific ways that people use communication to help maintain their relationships.
  3. Identify the key behaviors used to maintain romantic relationships.
  4. Describe similarities and differences in how female and male friendships are maintained.
  5. Identify the issues related to maintaining different types of cross-sex friendships.
  6. Explain the challenges that people in friends with benefits, long-distance, and cohabiting relationships face when trying to maintain their relationships, as well as how they deal with those challenges.