Lecture Outline for March 21, 2000
Long Distance Relationships


I. Definition

• A. Distance
• B. Access
  
  

II. Advantages

• A. Personal Characteristics
  1. "sailor on every boat"
     
  2. high achiever
  
  
• B. Positive Consequences
  
  1. More Control
  2. More Personal Time
  3. More Friendships
  4. Other Relationships
  5. More like "First Date"
  6. Survival Skills
  
  
• C. Negative Consequences
  
  1. Loneliness
  2. Tension/stress
  3. Other Relationships
  4. Break-up
  
  
  

III. Predictors of Satisfaction

• A. Money
• B. Support System
  
  1. family
  2. friends
• C. Rules (e.g., reciprocity, fidelity)
  ----consensus is key
• D. Prior Experience
  1. With Person
  2. With Relationships
  3. With LDR
• E. Shared Trajectories
• F. Frequency of Interaction
• G. Sharing
• H. Talk (small vs. heavy)
  1. small talk
  2. use technology
• I. Choice Perception
  
  

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