COGNITION IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS

This article describes and discusses the programme of research and the orizing that I and my colleagues have carried out over the last decade , investigating cognition in intimate contexts. Initially, the prevail ing research and theory concerning the role of causal attributions in close relationships is briefly described. Next, a model is explicated in which attribution knowledge structures and processes are located wi thin a contemporary, broad, information-processing framework. Finally some recent research is described that addresses some important issues concerning the links between attributions and the layperson's close r elationship theories and beliefs (i.e., knowledge structures).