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Trajectories and processes of change in close relationships
are the focus of my current research. This work is part of the
Minnesota
Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. My research team
is currently examining two aspects of development and close
relationships. In one line of work, we are conducting intensive
interviews and observation with the participants in the project,
who are now in their late twenties, and with their romantic
partners. The goal is to examine functioning in these intimate
relationships as a manifestation of competence appropriate to
young adulthood. We have documented links between the
characteristics of these relationships and earlier history of
relationships with parents and with peers from infancy through
adolescence. Recently, we have discovered that these earlier
histories also predict patterns of consistency, change, and
qualities of romantic experiences between the ages of 16 and 26
and to the nature of emotional experiences in these adult
relationships. Work is continuing to examine interrelations of
romantic experience in connection with the transition to
parenthood and with competence in work adult roles. For example,
we are examining the role of early relationship experiences in
fostering the ability to achieve balance among these common
adult roles.
In addition, we are studying alternative developmental
pathways leading to competencies traditionally associated with
adolescent development. For example, we have documented links
between competence in early and middle childhood and patterns of
both behavioral and emotional autonomy in late adolescence. We
also have shown that a history of supportive social
relationships with parents and with friends is associated with
constructive patterns of identity exploration in middle
adolescence and in early adulthood. On-going studies focus on
links between these aspects of competence in childhood and
adolescence and subsequent participation and competence in
romantic relationships and young adult work roles.
Recent publications
Linder, J. R., & Collins, W. A. (2005).
Parent and peer predictors of physical aggression and conflict
management in romantic relationships in early adulthood. Journal
of Family Psychology, 19(2), 252-262.
Roisman, G., Collins, W. A., Sroufe, L. A.,
& Egeland, B. (2005). Predictors of young adults’
representations of and behavior in their current romantic
relationships: A prospective test of the prototype hypothesis.
Attachment and Human Development, 7 (2), 105-121.
Sroufe, L. A., Egeland, B., Carlson, E. A.,
& Collins, W. A. (2005). The development of the person: The
Minnesota study of risk and adaptation from birth to adulthood.
New York: Guilford Press.
Collins, W. A., & Steinberg, L. (2006).
Adolescent development in interpersonal context. In W. Damon &
N. Eisenberg (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 4,
Socioemotional processes (pp. 1003-1067). New York: Wiley.
Collins, W. A., & Madsen, S. D. (2006).
Close relationships in adolescence and early adulthood. In D.
Perlman & A. Vangelisti (Eds.), Handbook of personal
relationships (pp. 191-209). New York: Cambridge University
Press.
Simpson, J. A., Collins, W. A., Tran, S., &
Haydon, K. C. (2007). Attachment and the experience and
expression of emotions in romantic relationships: A
developmental perspective. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology, 72(2), 355-367.
Ostrov, J. M., & Collins, W. A. (in press).
Social dominance in romantic relationships: A prospective
longitudinal study on nonverbal processes. Social Development.
Revised April 2007
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