Description
Book SynopsisThroughout history, unrequited love has inspired ballads, arias, poetry, drama, and literature. Almost always, however, the tale of the star-crossed lovers has been told from the point of view of the heartbroken pursuer. This illuminating new work explores unrequited love from both sides--that of the aspiring and eventually brokenhearted lover, and more unusually, that of the beloved, unwilling rejector. Based on systematically collected first-person accounts, BREAKING HEARTS shows how radically different and often contradictory the two experiences actually are.
Trade ReviewEngagingly written, BREAKING HEARTS offers an insightful and broad-ranging theoretical analysis and a careful empirical documentation of the heart breakers and the heart broken....It captures the drama of breaking hearts without sacrificing the rigor of the scientific enterprise.''
--Bella DePaulo, Ph.D., University of Virginia
This book is a rich and enlightening account of the experience of unrequited love, and should be of interest not only to scientists who study close relationships, but also to the general public. --Caryl E. Rusbult, Ph.D., University of North Carolina
The topic of unrequited love is an intriguing one that has caused much interest lately since the film, Fatal Attraction, and the several cases of stalking that have received public attention. This book offers the first systematic attempt to uncover the patterns of unrequited love and it is a good example of what a psychological analysis of important social issues can contribute to their solution. --Steve Duck, Ph.D., University of Iowa
- Often I found myself swept along by the charming, fluid style in which the book is written....In short, the authors are highly successful in creating a book that will appeal to a wide audience....This book makes a significant contribution to the literature. --Contemporary Psychology, 8/7/1994ƒƒ For all who've ever loved and lost, and for all therapists who've worked with lovesick clients (or their fantasy objects). --Behavioral Science Book Service, 8/7/1994
Table of ContentsContents: The Psychology of Heartbreak: An Introduction. Perspectives on Heartbreak. The Emotional Crossfire. The Ups and Downs of Self-Esteem. Guilt, Justification, Morality: Struggling with Right and Wrong. What Actually Happened? Lessons Learned and Mysteries Glimpsed. Conclusion: The Two Sides of Heartbreak.
