ON DESCRIBING RELATIONSHIPS ^*

Abstract

Summary (1) The study of inter‐individual relationships requires a descriptive basis. Description, however, must be guided with respect to the ultimate goals of the investigator‐understanding the dynamics of relationships, prognosis, specification of necessary conditions, etc.(2) The nature of inter‐individual relationships, how they can be described, and the nature of their stability, are discussed briefly.(3) The following aspects of relationships are discussed: (i) Content of the component interactions; (ii) Diversity of interactions; (iii) Reciprocity vs Complementarity: Control and Power; (iv) Qualities of component interactions; (v) Relative frequency and patterning of interactions; (vi) Multidimensional qualities; (vii) Cognitive and moral levels: Levels of perspective; (viii) Penetration.