Attachment

a. Child Attachment
i. Strange Situation: (Video) Explanation and demonstration of paradigm with toddlers.

b. Adult Attachment
i. Adult Attachment Theory and Research: A Brief Overview: Summary of research from R. Chris Fraley.
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast #2: Interviews with Jeff Simpson on milestones in attachment theory and research and with Gurit Birnbaum on the interplay between attachment and sex.
iii. Relationship Matters Podcast #19: "Insecure attachment and romantic relationships" In this podcast, Dr. Geoff MacDonald (University of Toronto) tells us about recent work on how people who have insecure attachment differ from those with secure attachment in how they perceive the potential of a close relationship as potentially socially threatening vs. rewarding.
iv. Relationship Matters Podcast #25: “Attachment and humor”: In this podcast, Maryhope Howland (University of Minnesota) talks about her research on attachment and humor in romantic relationships.

c. Attachment Styles
i. Learning about your ownattachment style (online activity): A 5-minute questionnaire designed to *measure your “attachment style,” or how you relate to others in the context of intimate relationships. When completed, the site will reveal your attachment style, and provide a brief summary of what is known about your attachment style based on contemporary scientific research. (Based on Fraley’s Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised measure of adult attachment styles.)
ii. Attachment Theory Resources: Links on attachment theory and measurement from R. Chris Fraley.

d. Relationship Matters # 93 “Avoidant and defensive: Adult attachment and quality of apologies”: Dr Karina Schumann (University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) discusses her research which explored the role attachment avoidance had in making apologies and managing offenses they have made. Read the associated article here.

Attraction

a. Science of Relationships(Luvze): “Top 5 Classic Studies in the Psychology of Attraction” by Dr. Gary Lewandowski -Provides brief overview of attraction research studies, including similarity (Byrne & Nelson, 1965), proximity (Festinger, Schachter, & Back, 1950), (mis)attribution of arousal (Dutton & Aron, 1974), gain-loss theory of attraction (Aronson & Linder, 1965), and perceptions of beauty (Dion, Berscheid, & Walster, 1972).

b. Proximity and similarity (YouTube): Student-made video that explains three ideas behind the psychology of attraction: propinquity, similarity, and complementary dynamics.

c. Similarity
i. Seinfeld: Falling in love with someone just like yourself (also illustration of fatal attraction)
ii. The Big Bang Theory: Friendship Algorithm (illustrates the importance of similarity, in a comical way)
iii. Stimulus-Value-Role theory Brief lecture presented in relation to similarity.

d. Physiological, Physical, and Psychological Attraction
i. Arousal (YouTube) Videoclip about Masters and Johnson’s sex research; video based on book entitled Masters of sex: The life and times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the couple who taught America how to loveby Thomas Maier.
ii. Misattribution of Arousal/Excitation Transfer – (YouTube) Video clip depictingfamous experiment by Art Aron on Capilano Suspension Bridge
iii. PBS video of Art Aron talking about the famous bridge study.

e.Physical Attractiveness
i.Dove Evolution: Makes the point that models are often ordinary looking people who are manipulated to look attractive.
ii. Is Beauty Contagious? Dr. Rob Burriss (Psychology of Attractiveness Podcast) asks:Is beauty contagious? How is the average attractiveness of a group of people influenced by its members? Dr. Burriss also discusses howthe ratio of men to women in our social group meddles with our mating psychology.
iii. Beauty/Symmetry: “The Human Face” (BBC -Scenes 6 and 7 from beauty segment). This is part of a 4-part BBC series about the science of facial beauty.
iv. The Power of Beauty: Survival of the Prettiest (Part I)
v. What makes a man attractive – from Business Insider
vi. Science of Sex Appeal: Out of Your League (shows Doug Kenrick illustrating the Matching hypothesis). There are also many other short video clips at the Science of Sex Appeal

Commitment

a. The Investment Model: Measuring Commitment with the Investment Model Scale(Personal Relationshipsarticle by Rusbult, Martz, & Agnew, 1998 -includes scale items)

b. Relationship Matters #51 “Broadening the investment model”: Noam Segal of the University of Illinois explains the investment model, and how it relates to his research on perceived partner responsiveness and attachment. Read the associated article here.

c. Animated discussion from Dan Ariely, discussing permanent availability (fits in a discussion of comparison level for alternatives).

Communication

a. Science ofRelationships (Luvze): General Approaches to Communication: “Direct Communication is Best, but the Benefits May Take Time” by Dr. Sarah Stanton: Discusses active/passive, constructive/destructive communication matrix.

b. Sex and the City, Season 6, Episode 6 (“Hop, Skip, and a Week”) demonstrates numerous communication concepts (nearly all from Miller Ch. 5). You can show the whole episode in class and have students complete a handout with examples of each major concept from the communication chapter as they watch. (No link to resource)

c. “The Human Face”

d. Technology and Communication
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #14"Can you connect with me now? Mobile phones and face-to-face interactions": In two experiments,Andrew K. Przybylski at the University of Essex looks at how the mere presence of a mobile phone can have negative effects on face-to-face interactions.
ii. TED: Connected, but alone? As we expect more from technology, do we expect less from each other? Sherry Turkle studies how our devices and online personas are redefining human connection and communication -- and asks us to think deeply about the new kinds of connection we want to have.

e. Sex Differences in Communication – YouTube clip “It’s not about the nail”.

f. Culture vs. skills – scene from “Love Actually” to illustrate cultural differences in translation

g. Self-disclosure
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #23 “The path to closeness”: Jennifer Marie Tomlinson at Stony Brook University talks about how to overcome the risks of increasing closeness in relationships.
ii. Self-disclosure as social penetration and reciprocity – scene from “The Holiday”in which female character “interviews” love interest.

Conflict

a. “What are we fighting about? The top 15 sources of conflict in relationships.”Online article by Dr. Gary Lewandowski (based on study by Buss 1989) on ScienceofRelationships (Luvze).

b. Gender Differences: Relationship Matters Podcast #13: "Conflict Avoidance" Dr. Tamara Afifi at the University of California, Santa Barbara talks about why women find (conflict) avoidance more dissatisfying than men.

c. From the Gottman Institute
i. Expressing needs without conflict: “How to Complain without Hurting Your Partner”(YouTube) Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman explains the best (and worst) ways to talk to your mate about your wishes and needs
ii. Escalation to negotiation – Video Excerpt of "Making Relationships Work" Seminar with John Gottman

iii. “Three Things Never to Say in an Argument” (John Gottman on Anderson Cooper Show)

d. Conflict between lovers - Scene from Good Will Hunting: One partner moves away and tries to convince her partner to join her. Social class differences, break-up, relationship aggression.

e. Big Eyes: A feature film by Tim Burton, based on a true story, that demonstrates multiple examples of relationship conflict topics including coercion, power and dominance, dependence, emotional and physical violence, deception, and revenge.

f. Relationship Matters Podcast#3: Interviews with Shannon E. Weaver on the role that step-mothers play in modern families & Thomas Nelson Bradbury on links between external stress and how we fight within relationships.

g. Conflict resolution
i. “Pause fights” on How I Met Your Mother: Shows couple regulating emotions by “pausing” fights before they escalate. Good example from popular media.
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast #29: “Guilt, Shame and Forgiveness”: Blake Riek from Calvin College, USA, talks about guilt, shame and forgiveness in relationships.
iii.Relationship Matters Podcast #31:“Conflict Resolution”: Keith Sanford at Baylor University, USA talks about conflict resolution among couples. Read the associated article here.
iv. Relationship Matters Podcast #42: “The stress hormone in relationships”: Kira Birdittfrom University of Michigan, USA talks about how your method of dealing with relationship tensions can affect your wellbeing. Read the associated article here.

v. Relationship Matters Podcast #85 “Withdrawal, attachment security, and recovery from conflict in couple relationships”: Dr Karen Prager (University of Texas, Dallas) talks about her study which looked at how withdrawing from a partner affected a couples recovery after having an argument or falling out. The study also considered how anxious attachment would impact the effects of withdrawing with some unexpected results. Read the associated article here.

Dating

a. First date: Scene from “The Invention of Lying” (IMDB), a movie about a world in which no one can tell lies. This scene shows a first date scenario between two characters expressing what they actually think about each other

b. Expectations: The Relationship Agreement from “Big Bang Theory.” A comical illustration of how people (explicitly) set rules and boundaries within their relationships.

c. Relationship Matters Podcast #34: “Where couples first meet”: Sharon Sassler from Cornell University, USA talks about the range of locations where couples first meet and the effect this has on their relationships. Read the associated article here.

d. Does Having a wingman help you get a date: Animated clip to show the importance of social networks in relationship initiation.

Dissolution

a. Breakups (general)
i. Science of Relationships (Luvze): Breakups
ii. Break up scene from “Big Bang Theory”. A comical illustration about breakups due to philosophical differences.
iii. TED: “Breakups don’t have to leave you broken.” Dr. Gary Lewandowski, Jr., professor of psychology at Monmouth University, makes the case that if your relationship doesn’t help you become a better person, endingit does. Leaving a bad relationship provides an opportunity for growth and learning.
iv. Trailer from the movie, Breakup. Illustrates how difficult breakups can be.
v. From Sex and the City: Ending a relationship with a post-note (strategies for breakups)
vi. A clip from the movie Blue Valentine provides a great example of relationship dissolution.
vii. Take this Waltz provides example of the dissolution of a relationship.
viii. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – the premise of the movie is about a fictional company that removes memories of ex-partners.

b. Divorce
i. “Five Risk Factors for Divorce” by Benjamin Le, Based on Karney & Bradbury (1995) - Science of Relationships (Luvze)
ii. TED: “Surviving Divorce”: How to heal fromdivorce: What now? Sleep, self compassion, and redefining ourselvesby Dr. David Sbarra
iii. John Gottman talking about the predictors of divorce.
iv. Relationship Matters # 92 “A problem shared is not a family halved -does sharing the same concerns help prevent divorce?”: Dr Ellen Stephenson (University of British Columbia, Canada) discusses her article ‘A 20 prospective study of marital separation and divorce in step families: Appraisals of family stress as predictors’.Read the associated article here.

Diversity in Relationships

a. Cultural influence on relationships – Scenes from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”apply

b. Intimate Relationships Among Sexual Minorities – It Could Happen to You (YouTube video)

c. Asexual Relationships - Intimate Relationships without Erotic Attraction: The 4thSexuality (YouTubevideo)

d. Poverty and Intimacy - Kathryn Edin and Maria Kefalas: Why Poor Women Put Motherhood before Marriage

Emotion and Dreams

a. Relationship Matters #94 “A labor of love? Emotion work in intimate relationships”: Dr Rebecca M. Horne (University of Toronto, Canada) discusses her research on emotional labor, gender, and the type of work that sustains relationships. Read the associated article here.

b. What can we learn from our dreams? How do dream reports relate to Romantic Partners? TED talk by Dr. Dylan Selterman.

Evolutionary Psychology

a. Human Needs: Video discussing Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

b. Need to Belong: Animated video about the human need to belong and relate to others

c. Relationship Matters Podcast #37: “Oxytocin, the love hormone”: Julianne Holt-Lunstad from Brigham Young University talks about how the hormone oxytocin relates to relationship quality. Read the associated article here.

d. Biology - Relationship Matters Podcast #17 "Empathy and identification": Dr Lane Beckes and Dr James A. Coanat the University of Virginia discuss their research on correlations in psycho-physiological and brain imaging data, in particular their own innovative correlational approaches to explore interpersonal empathy and identification.

Exchange Relationships

Ice cream scene from movie, Joy Luck Club. Illustrates the negative effect of keeping track of exchange in relationships.

Fidelity and Jealousy

a. Secrets
i. Lie Detection - (Dateline special) - Featuring Paul Ekman, this clip discusses how we can better detect deception in our relationships.
ii. The truth about secret relationships: Can private pairings be matches made in heaven? The answer might surprise you(Psychology Today article)
iii. Secret relationships (Science Daily Article): Article discussing research discussing the additional challenges of secret relationships

b. Infidelity
i. TED: “Why we love, why we cheat” (Helen Fisher): Anthropologist Helen Fisher takes on a tricky topic –love –and explains its evolution, its biochemical foundations and its social importance
ii. Love, Lust, and Marriage: Why we stay and why we stray (ABC Special with John Stossel) - Is monogamy human nature? Why do partners cheat? Arranged marriage. Words of wisdom from long-term couples(link to libraries or for purchase)
iii. TED: “Rethinking infidelity... a talk for anyone who has ever loved” (Esther Perel): Infidelity is the ultimate betrayal. But does it have to be? Relationship therapist Esther Perel examines why people cheat, and unpacks why affairs are so traumatic: because they threaten our emotional security. In infidelity, she sees something unexpected —an expression of longing and loss. A must-watch for anyone who has ever cheated or been cheated on, or who simply wants a new framework for understanding relationships.

c. Fidelity/jealousy over time -the movie “It's Complicated” has many scenes to illustrate relationship concepts. This clipshows components of the movie that may be used in class.

d. Relationship Matters Podcast #41:“Moral boundaries in Relationships”: Dylan Selterman from University of Maryland, USA talks about different perceptions of morality and how they affect the rules of romantic relationships. Read the associated article here.

Friendship

a. Relationship Matters Podcast #83 “How many hours does it take to make a friend”: Dr Jeffery Hall contextualizesand explains his study on the amount of time it takes to increase closeness with people.Read the associated article here.

b. (repeat post) The Big Bang Theory: Friendship Algorithm (illustrates the importance of similarity, in a comical way)

c. Frenemies (7 minutes). Audio clipfrom the show This American Life (these audio clips providean effective, off-beat way to introduce a relationship topic)

Gender and Relationships

a. Gender Differences in Communicating – brief clip from “Friends” episode to illustrate gender differences amongst friends

b. Sex is complicated: Description of gender,gender roles, gender identity, and sexualorientation.

c. “Why men don’t iron” – BBC special. Good discussion of hormones, sex, and gender. (Not ideal version for English-speakers; includes some dubbing and subtitles.)

General Tips for Teaching

General Tips for Teaching Relationship Science across topics. ScienceofRelationships (Luvze).

(Relationship) Initiation

a. Gender differences - Relationship Matters Podcast #6: Interviewwith Justin Cavalloon gender differences and relationship initiation

b. Select the Right Relationship: In this TED talk, Alexandra Redclaydiscusses relationship processes, why people repeat negative patterns in relationships, and how to choose healthy partnerships.

c. “The Science of Flirting” article from BBC: Brief summary of science-based flirting tips

d. When Harry met Sally... Couples Interviews - I especially love the little clips of the older couples describing how they first met.

e. Self-presentation
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #1: Interview with Jeffrey Hall on deception in online dating.
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast #20 "Meeting strangers and first impressions": In this podcast, Susan Sprecher (Illinois State University) and Stanislav Treger (De Paul University) talk about their research into meeting strangers and first impressions.
iii. Relationship Matters Podcast Number 43 “Self-Esteem and Social Connections”: Danu Stinson from University of Victoria, USA talks about how your sense of self guides your social interactions and confidence levels when initiating new relationships. Read the associated article here.

Intimacy

Before Sunrise has some fantastic scenes illustrating attraction and intimacy growth through self-disclosure.

Life Cycle

a. For Better or for Worse: a feature-length documentary that explores the lives and relationships of five feisty couples married for fifty years or longer. The film takes the viewer on an intimate journey as the couples discuss the issues that inform every long-term relationship.

b. Relationship Matters Podcast #5: Interviews with Nickola Overall on how to change your partner and relationship - what to do and what not to do and Susan Charles on why older people are happier than younger people and what younger people should learn from it.

c. Relationship Matters Podcast #66 “Changes in older couples’ compassionate love over a year: The roles of gender, health, and attachment avoidance”: Dr Allen Sabey discusses his research on the changes in compassionate love in older couples over time as well the impact of health. Read the associated articlehere.

d. Young Adult: “Having healthy relationships in your first year of college” - A concise, useful guide with dating advice tips for young adults(Science of Relationships article)

e. Animated Relationship Over Time - Young to Old: Scene from “Up” showing a couple growing old together, dealing with challenges.

f. Relationship #88 “Adolescents’ Conceptualizations of Kindness and its Links with Well-being”: Dr Jessica Cotney (University of Sussex, UK) explains her research to understand the conceptualizations of kindness from six focus groups with 11-16 year olds.Read the associated article here.

Love

a. “The Brain in Love”: In this TED talk, Helen Fisheraddresses the questionWhy do we crave loveso much, even to the point that we would die for it? To learn more about our very real, very physical need for romantic love, Helen Fisher and her research team took MRIs of people in love —and people who had just been dumped.

b. Relationship Matters Podcast #71 “What does it mean to feel loved?”: Dr Saeideh Heshmati of Pennsylvania State University, explains the findings of her recent study on individual and shared opinions on what makes people feel loved using cultural consensus theory. Read the associated article here.

c. Culture of Monogamy
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #4: Interviews with RaymondM. Bergner on how we define love and what it means for us all and Eric Anderson on cheating and the concept of monogamy in our current society.
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast Number #32 “Non-Monogamy”: Amy Moors at the University of Michigan, USA talks about consensual non-monogamy in romantic relationships. Read the associated article here.

d. Types of Love
i. Passionate Love - Relationship Matters Podcast #9 "Passionate Love": Legendary Elaine Hatfield at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa talks about passionate love.
ii. Compassionate Love - Relationship Matters Podcast #28 “Compassionate Love”: Harry T. Reis at the University of Rochester talks about compassionate love and everyday compassionate acts.Read the associated full research article here.
iii. Relationship Matters Podcast #30: “Self-expansion and Passionate Love”: Virgil Sheets at Indiana State University, USA talks about self-expansion and passionate love. Read the associated article here.

e. Preoccupation with the other – scenes from “There’s Something About Mary” apply (IMDB; trailer)

f. Love styles – a YouTube video lecture describing Lee’s Styles of Loving. I addition, theopening scenes from the movie “Don Jon”(IMBD)illustrate Game-style (Ludus) love.

g. Triangular theory of love: Sternberg’swebsite describes his popular theory oflove in terms of three components: passion, intimacy, and commitment.The components combine to form different love types.

h. Love over time i. Ted Huston’s PAIR Project: Psychology Today reviews the history and findings of the Process of Adaptation in Intimate Relationships project.
ii. Valentines Day: Stories about couples that all take place decades after that moment their eyes first meet. Audio clipfrom the show This American Life (these clips providean effective, off-beat way to introduce a relationship topic)

i. The Science of Love with Art Aron: on Closeness

j. Relationship Matters Podcast #79 “Realistic Love: Contemporary college women’s negotiations of princess culture and the “reality” of romantic relationships”: Amanda Koontz answers questions about her recent study on the perception of princess culture amongst college-aged women and the possible impact it has on their constructions of romantic relationships.Read the associated article here.

k. The True Story of Romeo and Juliet. TED talk by Colleen Sinclair. Slides for this talk here.

(Relationship) Management

a. Humor
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #25 “Attachment and humor”: In this podcast, Maryhope Howland (University of Minnesota) talks about her research on attachment and humor in romantic relationships
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast #7: Dr Jeff Hall discusses his research on sense of humor and partner embarrassment for couples in long-term relationships

b. Positive Interactions
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #15 "Sharing positive experiences": Nathaniel M. Lambert at the Brigham Young University talks about his research on the positive affect of sharing happy experiences with someone close to you.
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast #21 “The benefits of being friendly to others": In this podcast, Bonnie M. Le at the University of Toronto talks about the benefits of being friendly to other people.

c. Long distance relationships
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #45 “Relationship Savoring in long-distance relationships”: Jessica L. Borelli from Pomona College, USA talks about how ‘savoring’ your partner can strengthen a fragile relationship. Read the associated article here.
ii. Scenes from the movie “Going the Distance” (IMDB): A romantic comedy about a heterosexual couple who try to keep their love alive while they live apart in New York and San Francisco.

d. Social Support
i. Invisible social support: Researchers Maryhope Howland and Jeffry Simpson discuss their study about how social support benefits are maximized when provided "invisibly" --that is without the support recipient being aware that they are receiving it.
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast #35 “Emotional support baselines”:> Eran Bar-Kalifa from Bar-Ilan University, Israel talks about emotional support in relationships and what happens if we disappoint or even surpass our partner’s expectations.Read the associated article here.
iii. Relationship Matters Podcast #38 “Enhancing your partner in times of stress”: Gwendolyn Seidman from Albright College, USA talks about different emotional responses shown by couples going through stress and conflict. Read the associated article here.

e.The Good Men Project (website). A Progressive websitegiving advice about sex, marriage, and parenting (targeted at men, but generally sound advice for anyone). Sections on Marriage, Dads & Families, and Sex & Relationships.

Marriage

a. Institution of marriage
i. Stephanie Coontz, On Marriage: This video features Stephanie Coontz discussing how relationships have changed and what makes for happy couples today. Discusses Gottman’s methods and research.
ii. Samantha Joel, “Ten Wedding Vows Based on Relationship Science” (article).

b. Arranged marriage
i. TEDx: My Arranged Marriage – How I embraced the unknown.

c. Same-sex marriage
i. TED: “The case for same-sex marriage” Daine Savino, a state senator for the 23rd senate district of New York, discusses her perspective on why same-sex marriage should be legal.

d. Couple at 81st anniversary: Sharing secret of successful marriage

e. Relationship Matters Podcast #70 “Marriage as a training ground”: Dr Tila Pronk of Tilburg University, discusses her paper which looks at whether partners’ levels of self-control and forgiveness change in the first four years of marriage. Read the associated article here.

Mating and Partner Selection

Peer and Family Disapproval - Relationship Matters Podcast #10 "Being in a Relationship that Others Disapprove of": Dr Justin Lehmiller at Harvard University talks about the detrimental effects of being in a relationship that is disapproved of by others.

Mental and Physical Health

a. Depression
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #78 “Depression, emotion regulation and the demand and withdraw pattern during intimate relationship conflict”: Dr Sarah Holley discusses her paper which investigates the relationship between depression and the demand/withdraw pattern common in conflict in romantic couples. Read the associated article here.
ii. Relationship Matters Podcast #1: Interviews with Jeffrey Hall on deception in online dating and Leanne Knoblochon the link between depression andrelationships.

b. Happiness
i. TED Talk, Robert Waldinger - Long-term study on happiness>: What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? (links to relationships)

c. Physical health
i. Relationship Matters Podcast #18 "Positive social ties and long-term health outcomes": Dr Bert N. Uchino at the University of Utah talks about his research on positive social ties and how this impacts on our physical health.
ii. Skills for Healthy Romantic Relationships: TED talk by Joanne Davila
iii. Weight management
1) Relationship Matters Podcast #16 "You’re going to eat that?": Dr Tricia Burke at the University of Puget Sound, USA talks about relationship processes and conflict among mixed-weight couples
2) Relationship Matters Podcast #52 “Talking about Weight”: Tricia Burke of Texas State University talks about weight related communication between couples and how this affects relationship satisfaction. Read the associated article here.

d. Inability to reconstruct memories - Story of Jill Price, the woman who can remember everything; illustrates what might happen in relationships if people couldn’t reconstruct their memories

Methods

a. Gottman’s Love Lab
i. TEDx: The Science of Love - Dr. Gottman discusses his research on Love over the years.
ii. The Gottman Institute: Website outlining the physiology laboratory, often referred to as the “Love Lab,” is where couples were screened, interviewed, and observed. The Lab used video, heart rate monitors, and measures of pulse amplitude, jitterinessand skin conductivity. This information was coded using the Specific Affect Coding System (SPAFF) and techniques of math modeling to assess relationships and predict their trajectories. The Lab amassed a video data bank of hundreds of couples interacting at different time points in their relationship.
iii. Inside the Gottman’s research lab. Illustrates observation studies, when discussing research methods.

b. Speed Dating: Dr. Eli Finkel and Dr. Paul Eastwick explain the Northwestern Speed Dating Study and factors affectingattraction in a laboratory setting.(YouTube video)

Movies: Beginning of Relationships

Movies: End of Relationships

Other Resources

Audio clips from the show This American Life (these audio clips provided an effective, off-beat way to introduce a relationship topic):

Parenting

a. Parental Alienation – TED talk by Jennifer Harman

b. Relationship Matters #89 “Parenting Goals”: Dr Bonnie M. Le (University of Toronto, Canada) discusses her research which found links between the pursuit of different parenting goals and relationship quality and the child’s emotional well-being and responsiveness. Read the associated article here.

Personality

a. Relationship Matters Podcast #11 "Personality and Marriage": Dr.Norm O'Rourke at Simon Fraser University in Canada discusses his article on personality and marriage among heterosexual long-wed couples.

b. Relationship Matters Podcast #40 “When ‘we’ changes ‘me’”: Kevin McIntyre from Trinity University, USA talks about how couples influence each other’s personalities, for better or worse. Read the associated article here.

Relationship Maintenance

a. Positive Illusions. Lie about your lover: Science of Us; episode 21 (animated description of positive illusions)

b. Sacrifice - Relationship Matters Podcast #22: “Good days, bad days: Do sacrifices improve long-term relationships?": Casey Totenhagen at the University of Arizona talks about whether personal sacrifices improve the quality of long-term relationships.

Romance

a. This is an invited symposium at the 2015 American Sociological Association meeting on Modern Romance. It includes talks by Helen Fisher, Christian Rudder (found of OkCupid), Eli Finkel, and Aziz Ansari.

b. Inside the Romance Industry from This American Life - What is this thing? This thing called love, that is. For answers, we explore the romance novel industry, a $1.5 billion empire run almost entirely by and for women. Plus, relearning the rules of romance from theother side of the gender line. And Sarah Vowell tells the story of the Greatest Romance of the 20th Century.

Satisfaction

a. Expectations: “What you don’t know about marriage” In this funny, casual talk from TEDx, writer Jenna McCarthy shares surprising research on how marriages (especially happy marriages) really work.

b. Satisfaction without children. A clip from the documentary “Childless by Choice Project”, which features the experience of a childless couple and how it has affected their relationship.

c. The Marriage Hack – In this TED talk, Dr. Eli Finkeldiscusses trends in marital satisfaction over time and developments in his research about preventing thatdecline.

Sex and Sexuality

a. Science and the culture of kissing: Feel-good clip on kissing.

b. Hooking up. UCLA students are interviewed about hooking up including their views on how it affects relationships.

c. Relationship Matters Podcast #8 "Talking Sex": Jennifer Montesi at Temple University talks about sex

d. Nonverbal Demo: You can alter the figures to see if students associate sexual orientation with nonverbal cues (e.g., swing of the hips)

e. “The importance of what happens after sex”: Dr. Amy Muise discusses post-coital activities, gender differences, and their connection to long and short-term bonding and commitment in this Science of Relationships (Luvze) article.

f. Maintaining Sexual Attraction: “The secret to desire in a long-term relationship” (Esther Perel) TED: Esther Perel, an LMFT psychotherapist and sex coach, discusses how satisfying and committed sex draws on the conflicting needs of security and surprise. She discusses how to sustain desire and discusses erotic intelligence.

g. Sex as Stress Relief - Relationship Matters Podcast #12 "Sexual Healing": Dr Tsachi Ein-Dor at the School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel talks about how sex can alleviate stress, for both men and women in satisfying relationships

Sexual Orientation

a. Sexual diversity
i. “Our House” (Parenting-focused):Explore ethnic and sexual orientation diversity in family life. This movie provides an examination of the experiences of children of gay and lesbian parents. The documentary profiles 16 sons and daughters between the ages of four and twenty-three in five diverse families.
ii. TED Talk: “Fifty Shades of Gay” Photographer iO Tillett Wright grew up between genders and sexualities. She's shot 2,000 people who consider themselves somewhere on the LBGTQspectrum and asked many: can they assign a percentage to how gay or straight they are? Most people consider themselves to exist in the grey areas of sexuality, which presents a real problem when it comes to discrimination. Because where do you draw the line?

b. Homosexuality
i. Men - “Daddy & Papa” (Parenting-focused): This is a one-hour documentary exploring the personal, cultural, and political impact of gay men who are raising children. Four gay male families are highlighted.
ii. Women: Dr. Lisa Diamond, the author of “Sexual Fluidity:Understanding Women’s Love and Desire”, talks about how some women have a fluid sexualorientation and argues that sexual orientation is not necessarily fixed for life but may evolve over a lifetime.

c. Bisexuality
i. Bisexuality: The myths and medical truths about bisexuality are discussed including a report from the state of Massachusetts indicating that women who identify as bisexual show worse health outcomes than heterosexuals, gay men, and lesbian women.
ii. Is Bisexuality a Phase?: Dr. Lisa Diamond discusses the fluidity of sexual identity in response to misrepresentations of her research.

Technology in Relationships

a. Can Technology Bring Us True Love? TED talk by Dr. Eli Finkel

b. Relationship Matters Podcast #69 “Swiping me off my feet: Explicating relationship initiation on Tinder”: Professor Leah E. LeFebvre of the University of Wyoming, talks about her paper which delves into how mobile dating apps like Tinder are changing how relationship initiating functions.Read the associated article here.

c. Tinder Experiment: Men vs. Women (present when discussing how technology can negatively affect self-esteem).

d. Relationship #91 “Do smartphones distract parents from connecting with their children?”: Dr Kostadin Kushlev (University of Virginia, USA) discusses his research which investigated whether spending time on smartphones distracts parents from connecting with their children.Readthe associated article here.

Talks and Conference Presentations

Robert Waldinger - TED Talk on Longitudinal study on long-term happiness (links to relationships)

Modern Romance - Helen Fisher, Christian Rudder (founder of OKCupid), Eli Finkel, and Aziz Ansari. Invited symposium at 2015 American Sociological Association meeting on modern romance

TED talks by IARR Members