The Management and Production of Risk in Romantic Relationships: A Postmodern Paradox

Abstract

Expanding on the work of Ulrich Beck and other social theorists, the central thesis of this article is that individuals in contemporary North American society are increasingly motivated by the need to alleviate expanding levels of perceived risks associated with interpersonal love relationships and mate selection. In response to these perceived risks, men and women today are altering their relationship patterns in such a way that the process of relationship formation and assessment has become increasingly rationalized. As a result, a paradox has been created between the rational management of interpersonal risk associated with romance and the production of risk. This article is primarily a theoretical treatment of the issues, augmented with data on the social history of adolescence, courtship, and marriage and a review of the literature on mate selection processes in contemporary society.