Abstract
Emotion clearly plays a leading role in close relationships and may even direct their development, durability, and dissolution. In theories of close relationships, however, emotion is often given only a supporting role. Recent research in the study of emotion suggests several ways in which existing theories might be enriched by letting emotion into the limelight: Social exchange theory could become more intuitively appealing by incorporating recent research on the role of emotion in decision making. Dialectical theories could be enriched by incorporating emotions that provide feelings of dialectical tension and drive movement between poles. Stage theories of relational development could be elaborated by including how feelings change as relationships develop and deteriorate.
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