Personal Relationships Across Cultures

254 Pages·1999·1.3 MB·English

by  Robin Goodwin

Personal Relationships across
Cultures
In this innovative text Robin Goodwin draws together research from across
the world to explore how fundamental differences in cultural values influence
the ways in which we form and maintain romantic relationships, raise our
children, make friends and communicate with work colleagues and our wider
social networks. Common relationship patterns across cultures are examined
and competing sociobiological and sociocultural interpretations are
discussed.
Robin Goodwin questions the prevailing assumption of an individuating,
selfish world, or ‘the end of relationships’. He also challenges the current
research emphasis on relationships formed by Northern American and
Northern European undergraduates and calls for a more morally-driven and
applied focus.
Personal Relationships across Cultures will appeal to all those interested
in relationships in other cultures and in understanding the ways in which
their own values and backgrounds may influence their relationships with
others.
Robin Goodwin is Lecturer in Social Psychology at the University of Bristol,
England, and specialises in the study of personal relationships and culture.
He has conducted research into love, relationship formation, intimacy, social
support and sexuality across Europe and in the Far East. He frequently
lectures overseas and has published in the leading journals and texts in the
field.

Personal Relationships
across Cultures
Robin Goodwin
London and New York
First published 1999
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2003.
© 1999 Robin Goodwin
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter
invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Goodwin, Robin, 1964–
Personal relationships across cultures/Robin Goodwin.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Interpersonal relations—Cross-cultural studies.
2. Social networks—Cross-cultural studies. I. Title.
HM132.G646 1999 98–43680
302–dc21
ISBN 0-203-43416-1 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-74240-0 (Adobe eReader Format)
ISBN 0-415-12860-9 (hbk)
ISBN 0-415-12861-7 (pbk)
To Janice and David

Contents
List of illustrations xi
Acknowledgements xiii
Introduction: Studying personal relationships 1
A brief outline of this book 2
1 The development of research into personal relationships
across cultures 6
Introduction 6
Defining our terms: ‘personal relationships’ and ‘culture’ 6
The Western study of personal relationships: a very brief
history 9
Why we need a cross-cultural approach 12
The study of personal relationships across cultures 14
2 Relationships in a cultural setting 18
Introduction 18
Universality in personal relationships: a socio-biological
approach 18
Cultural values and dimensions of culture 22
Ecological explanations of behaviour 36
Personal relationships in a changing world 38
Summary 46
3 Relationship formation 47
Introduction 47
The arranged marriage 47
Partner preferences 52
Physical attractiveness 54
Ethnocentrism in dating 57
Marital choice in British Asian populations 58
The timing of marriage 59
vii
viii Contents
Love and love styles 60
The changing nature of partner selection 71
Summary 74
4 The developing relationship 75
Introduction 75
Marriage and partnership forms 75
Relationship norms and rules 78
Relationship commitment and satisfaction 82
Relationship dissolution and conflict 86
Summary 93
5 Sexual attitudes and behaviour 94
Introduction 94
Social norms and sexual behaviours 95
Sexual orientation 103
Sexually transmitted diseases 105
Prostitution and sexual exploitation 109
Assessing sexual practices and mores: a cautionary note 110
Summary 110
6 Family relations across cultures 111
Introduction 111
Kinship and family structure 111
Family policies and values 114
Modernisation and family change 119
Child-rearing 125
Decision making and gender roles 131
Summary 137
7 Relationships at work 139
Introduction 139
Work and the family 139
Cultural values and the workplace 141
Leadership 145
Decision making 146
Disagreements within the workplace 149
Social loafing 150
Informal economies 151
Summary 152
8 Friendship and the broader social network 153
Introduction 153
Social support and social networks 153
Contents ix
Friendship 159
Communication patterns 163
Fitting in with others 170
Summary 172
9 Taking it further: Implications and future developments 174
Introduction 174
Making sense of cultural differences 174
Changing cultures 176
Interventions across cultures 179
Being of use… 182
Bibliography 185
Index 225