A SUGGESTED STRUCTURE FOR A SCIENCE OF RELATIONSHIPS

An attempt is made to sketch the structure of a science, in the sense of an ordered body of knowledge, of interpersonal relationships. The s pecial properties of relationships are discussed. Relationships exist over time, involve properties beyond those of the constituent interact ions, include both behavior and subjective experience, and exist in a social context. It is suggested that a science of human relationships will require three overlapping phases: (1) Description, listing 10 cat egories of dimensions potentially useful for ordering the data; (2) Pr inciples of dynamics, which may concern external influences on the dya d, interchanges between een the participants, or intrapsychic processe s; and (3) The specification of the limits of applicability of those p rinciples. In general, a balance must be found between the search for generalisations and recognition df the complexity of human relationshi ps.