Interpersonal Cognition

Abstract

Abstract Some of the most frequent and important cognitions in everyday life are about close relationships—interpersonal cognition. Research at the intersection of close relationships and social cognition demonstrates how the interdependent nature of close relationships poses challenges for understanding traditional social cognitive processes and provides unique opportunities to advance social cognition theories. This chapter builds on foundational work from the first edition of The Oxford Handbook of Social Cognition and reviews how interpersonal cognition guides four central goals—seeking close and intimate bonds with others, understanding partners and relationships, maintaining satisfying and stable relationships over time, and dissolving unsatisfying or unfulfilling relationships. It acknowledges the complexities inherent in intimate and dyadic relationship processes by discussing how individuals’ characteristics and contextual factors often shape the pursuit and consequences of these goals. The chapter concludes by highlighting unique aspects of interpersonal cognition that might be applied to social cognition more broadly.