This course explores the individual, couple, and contextual factors that affect the development, maintenance, and decline of intimate relationships in social and cultural context. Students will be introduced to the concepts, principles and trends in intimate relationship scholarship and apply these to relationships they have observed, read about, and personally experienced. By examining scholarly articles and non-fiction texts in personal and socio-cultural terms, students will become more critical, analytical and reflective when it comes to intriguing topics like attraction, love, and effective communication. The course will also include in class discussions for students to reflect on their own behavior in intimate relationships.