Affect and Cognition in Close Relationships: Towards an Integrative Model

Abstract

Research relating to affective and cognitive processes in close relationships is briefly reviewed to illustrate the existence of two virtually independent literatures. It is argued that current approaches to research therefore hinder a comprehensive understanding of close relationships. To initiate an integration of affect and cognition in this domain, central findings are re-analysed with the intent of bringing a cognitive perspective to bear on ostensibly affective research, and vice versa. Several propositions specifying the interdependence of affect and cognition are outlined, and a preliminary model of affective and cognitive processing of behavioural events in marital interaction is introduced and illustrated.