Dynamics of Close Relationships in Psychology and Cultural Discourse
- Authors: Nartova-Bochaver S.K.1, Boronina A.A.2, Khodakovskaya E.N.1
-
Affiliations:
- HSE University
- Eötvös Loránd University
- Issue: Vol 35, No 1 (2024)
- Pages: 158-177
- Section: Times. Morals. Characters
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/0236-2007/article/view/255797
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S0236200724010114
- ID: 255797
Abstract
The paper is devoted to the conceptualization of the close relationships phenomenon and generalization of ideas about their development throughout the life span. Based on different theoretical approaches, the following six fundamental qualities of close relationships are highlighted: the direction of resource transfer (invest/acquire), remoteness/closeness, passion/reasonableness, responsibility/carelessness, authenticity (sincerity)/pretense, taking the perspective of a partner/egocentrism. In an empirical study (196 Russian-speaking young adults aged 18 to 30 years) using open-ended questions, these qualities were verified. As for the development of close relationships throughout life, it seems heuristic to link the rotation of close people with the content of the crises experienced by a person and the development tasks solved by them. Although the most frequent mechanism of moving away from some people and getting closer to others is separation, it seems that a person rather carries out interpersonal re-centering, changing the subjective significance of different people who do not disappear from the communication but the interaction loses some of the qualities listed above. To date, recentering has been studied in the period of transition from adolescence to adulthood. However, we assume that this is a universal mechanism of rotation of significant others throughout life. The recentering can be reverse when, after a break in the relationship, people again get closer to the reference persons from the past but the pattern of intimacy may be different from the one that was before. This assumption is illustrated by examples from consulting practice and fiction. It is concluded that there are no systematic evidence-based studies of the development of close relationships throughout the life span, which necessitates the justification and conduct of such a study.
Keywords
Full Text
![Restricted Access](https://journals.rcsi.science/lib/pkp/templates/images/icons/text_lock.png)
About the authors
Sofya K. Nartova-Bochaver
HSE University
Author for correspondence.
Email: snartovabochaver@hse.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8061-4154
DSc in Psychology, Professor
Russian Federation, 20 Myasnitskaya Str., Moscow 101000Anastasiia A. Boronina
Eötvös Loránd University
Email: a-a-boronina@student.elte.hu
ORCID iD: 0009-0005-2908-5989
Student of master’s degree in clinical and health psychology
Hungary, 23-27 Kazinczy Str., Budapest 1075Emilia N. Khodakovskaya
HSE University
Email: emilkh@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0007-3971-6144
Psychologist
Russian Federation, 20 Myasnitskaya Str., Moscow 101000References
- Балтес П.Б. Всевозрастной подход в психологии развития: исследование подъемов и спадов на протяжении жизни / пер. с англ. И. Ариевича // Психологический журнал. 1994. Т. 15, № 1. С. 60–80.
- Baltes P.B. Vsevozrastnoy podkhod v psykhologii razvitiya: issledovaniye pod’yemov i spadov na protyazhenii zhyzni [All Age Approach in Developmental Psychology: Rises and Falls during Lifetime Research], transl. from the English by I. Arievich. Psychologicheskiy zhurnal. 1994. Vol. 15, N 1. P. 60–80.
- Василюк Ф.Е. Понимающая психотерапия как психотехническая система. СПб.: Питер, 2023.
- Vasiluk F.E. Ponimajuschaya psikhoterapiya kak psikhotekhnicheskaya sistema [Understanding Psychotherapy as a Psychotechnical System]. St. Petersburg: Piter Publ., 2023.
- Выготский Л.С. Психология развития ребенка. М.: Смысл, Эксмо, 2005.
- Vygotsky L.S. Psykhologiya razvitiya rebenka [Psychology of Child Development]. Moscow: Smysl, Eksmo Publ., 2005.
- Дзукаева В.П. Культурно-специфические и семейные факторы сепарации от родительской семьи в юношеском возрасте: автореф. дис. … кандидата психол. наук. М.: МГУ им. М.В. Ломоносова, 2016 [Электронный ресурс]. URL: http://www.psy.msu.ru/science/autoref/dzukaeva/dzukaeva_autoref.pdf (дата обращения: 20.09.2023).
- Dzukaeva V.P. Kul’turno-spetsificheskie i semeinye faktory separatsii ot roditel’skoi sem’i v yunosheskom vozraste: avtoref. dis. … kandidata psikhol. nauk [Culturally Specific and Family Factors Separation from the Parent Family in Emerging Adulthood: Abstract of the Diss. … Ph.D., Psychology]. Moscow: Lomonosov Moscow State Univ. Publ., 2016 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://www.psy.msu.ru/science/autoref/dzukaeva/dzukaeva_autoref.pdf (date of access: 20.09.2023).
- Кроник А.А, Кроник Е.А. Психология человеческих отношений. М.: Феникс, 1998.
- Kronik A.A., Kronik E.A. Psikhologiya chelovecheskikh otnoshenii [Psychology of Human Relationships]. Moscow: Phenix Publ., 1998.
- Лоренц К. Восемь смертных грехов цивилизованного человечества. Оборотная сторона зеркала: пер. с нем. М.: Республика, 1998. C. 4–60.
- Lorents K. Vosem smertnikh grekhov tsivilizovannogo chelovechestva. Oborotnaya storona zerkala [Eight Mortal Sins. Back of the Mirrow], transl. from German. Moscow: Respublica Publ., 1998. P. 4–60.
- Орлов А.Б. Личность и сущность: внешнее и внутреннее Я человека // Вопросы психологии. 1995. № 2. C. 5–19.
- Orlov A.B. Lichnost’ I suschnost’: vneshnee I vnutrennee Ja cheloveka [Personality and Essence: the Outer and Inner Self of a Human Being]. Voprosy psikhologii. 1995. N 2. P. 5–9.
- Петровский А.В. Трехфакторная модель значимого другого // Вопросы психологии. 1991. № 1. С. 7–18.
- Petrovsky A.V. Trekhphaznaya model’ znachimogo drugogo [Three-Phase Model of Significant Other]. Voprosy psikhologii. 1991. N 1. P. 7–18.
- Петровский В.А. К пониманию личности в психологии // Вопросы психологии. 1981. № 2. С. 40–46.
- Petrovsky V.A. K ponimaniju lichnosti v psykhologii [Towards an Understanding of Personality in Psychology]. Voprosy psikhologii. 1981. N 2. P. 40–46.
- Пруст М. Германт / пер. с фр. А.А. Франковского. М.: Вече, 2022.
- Proust M. Guermant [Guermantes], transl. from French by A.A. Frankovsky. Moscow: Veche Publ., 2022.
- Сапоровская М.В., Екимчик О.А., Опекина Т.П. Близкие отношения: теоретический обзор исследований и концептуализация модели // Вестн. Костромского гос. ун-та. Сер.: Педагогика. Психология. Социокинетика. 2021. № 27(4). С. 144–154.
- Saporovskaya M.V., Ekimchenko O.A., Opekina T.P. Blizkie otnosheniya: teoreticheskij obzor issledovanij i kontseptualizatsiya modeli [Close Relationships: Theoretical Review of Research and Conceptualization of the Model]. Vestnik Kostromskogo universiteta. Ser.: Pedagogika. Psychologiya. Sotsiokinetika. 2021. № 27(4). P. 144–154.
- Степнова М.Л. Безбожный переулок. М.: АСТ, 2022.
- Stepanova M.L. Bezbozhnyi pereulok [Godless Lane]. Moscow: AST Publ., 2022.
- Тихомирова Е.В., Самохвалова А.Г., Сапоровская М.В., Хазова С.А. Специфика близких отношений на разных этапах взрослости в современном мире // Российский психологический журнал. 2023. Т. 20, № 2. С. 185–210.
- Tikhomirova E.V., Samokhvalova A.G., Saporovskaya M.V., Khazova S.A. Spetsifica blizkikh otnoshenij na raznikh etapakh vzrslosti v sovremennom mire [The Specifics of Close Relationships at Different Stages of Adulthood in the Modern World]. Rossiiskii psikhologicheskii zhurnal. 2023. Vol. 20, N 2. P. 185–210.
- Шибутани Т. Социальная психология. Ростов н/Д: «Феникс», 2002.
- Shibutani T. Sotsialnaya psikhologiya [Social Psychology]. Rostov-on-don: Phenix Publ., 2002.
- Шутценбергер А.А. Синдром предков: трансгенерационные связи, семейные тайны, синдром годовщины, передача травм и практическое использование геносоциограммы. М.: Изд-во Психотерапия, 2011.
- Shuttsenberger A.A. Sindrom predkov: transgueneratsionnije svazi, semejnie tajni, sindrom godovschini, peredacha travm i prakticheskoje ispolzovanije guenosotsiogrammi [Ancestral Syndrome: Transgenerational Links, Family Secrets, Anniversary Syndrome, Trauma Transmission and Practical Sse of the Genosociogram]. Moscow: Psychotherapy Publ., 2011.
- Щербаков М.К. Настасья. [Электронный ресурс]. URL: https://amdm.ru/akkordi/mihail_shcherbakov/98123/nastasya/ (дата обращения: 05.10.2023).
- Scherbakov M.K. Nastasya [Nastasya]. [Electronic resource]. URL: https://amdm.ru/akkordi/mihail_shcherbakov/98123/nastasya/ (date of access: 05.10.2023).
- Эриксон Э. Идентичность: юность и кризис / общ. ред. и предисл. А.В. Толстых. М.: Прогресс, 1996.
- Erikson E. Identichnost’: junost’ i krizis [Identity: Youth and Crisis]. Moscow: Progress Publ., 1996.
- Ялом И. Экзистенциальная психотерапия / пер. с англ. Т.С. Драпкиной. М.: Независимая фирма «Класс», 1999.
- Yalom I. Ekzistentsionalnaya psikhoterapiya [Existential Psychotherapy], transl. from English by T.S. Drabkina. Moscow: Nezavisimaya firma «Klass» Publ., 1999.
- Andree R.S. Exploring the Developmental Nature of Connections: A Study of Perspectival Action Developmental Patterns in High-Quality Connections. Doctoral dissertation. Fielding Graduate University, 2022.
- Braun V., Clarke V. Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology. Qualitative research in psychology. 2006. N 3(2). P. 77–101.
- Fereday J., Muir-Cochrane E. Demonstrating Rigor Using Thematic Analysis: A Hybrid Approach of Inductive and Deductive Coding and Theme Development. International journal of qualitative methods. 2006. N 5(1). P. 80–92.
- Furman W., Wehner E.A. Romantic Views: Toward a Theory of Adolescent Romantic Relationships. Portions of this chapter were presented at the meetings of the Society for Research in Adolescenc. Washington, DC: Sage Publications, 1994.
- Havighurst R.J. Developmental Tasks and Education. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1948.
- Levinson D.J. The Mid-Life Transition: A period in Adult Psychosocial Development. Psychiatry. 1977. N 40(2). P. 99–112.
- Lopez F.G., Rice K.G. Preliminary Development and Validation of a Measure of Relationship Authenticity. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 2006. N 53. P. 362–371.
- Petrov N., Robinson O.C., Arnett J.J. The Developmental Crisis Questionnaire (DCQ-12): Psychometric Development and Validation. Journal of Adult Development. 2022. N 29(4). P. 265–278.
- Righetti F., Đurić, M., Hofmann W., Finkenauer C. Self-Regulation in Close Relationships. Personal Relationship. 2022. N 29(4). P. 674–698.
- Robinson O.C. Conducting Thematic Analysis on Brief Texts: The Structured Tabular Approach. Qualitative Psychology. 2022. N 9(2). P. 194–208.
- Robinson O.C., Dunn A., Nartova-Bochaver S., Bochaver K., Asadi S., Khosravi Z., et al. Figures of Admiration in Emerging Adulthood: A Four-Country Study. Emerging Adulthood. 2016. N 4(2). P. 82–91.
- Robinson O.C., Lopez F.G., Ramos K., Nartova-Bochaver S. Authenticity, Social Context, and Well-Being in the United States, England, and Russia: A Three Country Comparative Analysis. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology. 2013. N 44(5). P. 719–737.
- Robinson O.C., Wright G.R. The Prevalence, Types and Perceived Outcomes of Crisis Episodes in Early Adulthood and Midlife: A Structured Retrospective-Autobiographical Study. International Journal of Behavioral Development. 2013. N 37(5). P. 407–416.
- Seiffge-Krenke I. Coping with Relationship stressors: A Decade Review. Journal of research on adolescence. 2011. N 21(1). P. 196–210.
- Shulman S., Connolly J. The Challenge of Romantic Relationships in Emerging Adulthood: Reconceptualization of the Field. Emerging Adulthood. 2013. N 1(1). P. 27–39.
- Sternberg R.J. Love is a Story: A new Theory of Relationships. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.
- Sullivan H.S. Conceptions of Modern Psychiatry. Washington, DC: William Alanson White Psychiatric Foundation, 1947.
- Tanner J.L. Recentering during Emerging Adulthood: A Critical Turning Point in Life Span Human Development. J.J. Arnett, J.L. Tanner (eds.). Emerging Adults in America: Coming of Age in the 21st century. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2006. P. 21–55.
![](/img/style/loading.gif)